One dead after head-on car, tractor-trailer crash on US 17 Friday

A Ridgeland man is dead after a head-on collision at 10:45 p.m. Friday on U.S. 17 in Jasper County, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Jaylan Cook, 26, was a passenger in a Chevy four-door when the driver attempted to pass traffic, lost control of the vehicle and hit a tractor trailer head-on, the highway patrol report said. He was pronounced dead on the scene, Jasper County Coroner Martin Sauls said.

The driver of the Chevy, 25, was airlifted to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah with serious injuries. The driver of the tractor trailer, 46, was transported to Coastal Carolina Hospital with minor injuries, according to the highway patrol.

The crash is still being investigated by the S.C. Highway Patrol.

This story will be updated if more information becomes available.

This story was originally published June 29, 2019 at 11:21 AM.

Kacen Bayless

The Island Packet

(843) 560-9167

A reporter for The Island Packet covering projects and investigations, Kacen Bayless is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from the University of Missouri with an emphasis in investigative reporting. In the past, he’s worked for St. Louis Magazine, the Columbia Missourian, KBIA and the Columbia Business Times. His work has garnered Missouri and South Carolina Press Association awards for investigative, enterprise, in-depth, health, growth and government reporting. He was awarded South Carolina’s top honor for assertive journalism in 2020.