NEWBERRY COUNTY, S.C. — Authorities say a driver is dead and a passenger had to be air-lifted from the scene following an accident involving a tractor-trailer and an SUV in Newberry County on Saturday.
According to Master Trooper Brandon Bolt with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the crash happened just after 6 p.m. on South Carolina Highway 34 near Broad River Road - about 2.7 miles outside of Pomaria.
Based on the highway patrol's initial investigation, a 2015 Jeep SUV that was heading west on Highway 34 failed to yield the right-of-way to a 2002 Kenworth 18-wheeler that was heading east on the same road.
The highway patrol reports that the Jeep turned in front of the truck and was struck. Leaving both the Jeep's driver and a 58-year-old man in the passenger seat trapped inside the vehicle.
Both had to be freed from the vehicle by emergency responders but, sadly, the driver didn't survive. The passenger was air-lifted from the scene for treatment. Authorities said that, while the passenger was wearing a seatbelt, the driver was not.
The driver of the Kenworth was uninjured in the crash.
Bolt said the crash is still under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
