Witnesses saw speeding car run red light before fatal crash in Columbia, police say
One person was killed and others were injured Saturday night in a crash in downtown Columbia, police said.
The two-vehicle collision happened at about 9 p.m. near the intersection of Assembly Street and Laurel Street, according to the Columbia Police Department. That’s in the area between Main Street and Finlay Park.
Witnesses said a car was speeding and ran a red light before hitting another vehicle, according to police. The car then flipped over and crashed into a building, police said.
The male driving the car died from injuries suffered in the crash, according to police.
The Richland County Coroner’s Office has not publicly identified the male crash victim.
Two passengers in the car were hurt, but their injuries were not considered serious, according to police.
Police initially said the driver of the other vehicle was taken to a local hospital. Further information on that driver’s condition was not available.
No other injuries were reported.
There was no word if any of the people involved in the crash were wearing seat belts.
The area in downtown was temporarily closed as police investigated the wreck.
Through Wednesday, 814 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2023, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,091 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.
At least 45 people have died in Richland County crashes in 2023, according to DPS data. Last year, 67 deaths were reported in the county, DPS reported.
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This story was originally published November 6, 2023 at 8:15 AM with the headline "Witnesses saw speeding car run red light before fatal crash in Columbia, police say."
