Man dies while driving on US 278 Saturday morning

An 86-year-old Okatie man died Saturday after suffering an apparent heart attack while driving on U.S. 278 just west of Simmonsville Road in Bluffton, said David Ott, deputy coroner for Beaufort County.

Donald E. Rieser was driving east on U.S. 278 just after 10:30 a.m. when his 2005 Ford 500 ran off the east side of the road, Ott said. A passing motorist who saw the vehicle on the side of the road called 911.

"We do not believe he died as a result of the crash, but instead suffered a heart attack" Ott said. "We're ruling it as a natural death so far."

No other injuries were reported.

Rieser was taken by ambulance to Hilton Head Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Ott said.

From staff reports