Local roads claim three
By CHARLENE SLAUGHTER, T&D Special Assignments Monday, August 20, 2007A 24-year-old Orangeburg man died early Sunday morning after stepping into the roadway on Highway 301 North and being hit by an oncoming car.
John David Brooks of 1347 Middle Pen Road, Orangeburg, was walking on the shoulder on U.S. 301 North, about 1.5 miles out of Orangeburg, at approximately 1:50 a.m. According to Paul Brothers of the South Carolina Highway Patrol, as a 1991 Lincoln Towncar, driven by Billy Jack Gray, 66, of Tyler Texas, approached, Brooks stepped in front of the car.
"The pedestrian was walking facing traffic on the shoulder on U.S. 301 and for unknown reasons walked out in front of Mr. Gray's vehicle in the right lane, which was also southbound on 301," Brooks said.
No charges were filed against Gray.
In a separate accident early Saturday morning, two men were ejected from a vehicle and killed in Calhoun County. The crash occurred on Valley Ridge Road when a 2000 GMC Jimmy traveling northbound veered off the right shoulder. The vehicle became airborne, overturning several times and striking several trees as both men were ejected from the car.
Killed were Jeremiah D. Chestnut, 22, of Gaston, and Jonathan Edward Franks, 22, of Greenville.
Brothers said the roadway was straight, the weather was clear and no other vehicle was involved in the accident.
T&D Special Assignments Writer Charlene Slaughter can be reached by e-mail at cslaughter@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5529. Discuss this and other stories online at TheT&D.com.
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