Car accidents have claimed 9 lives across region this week

STILLMORE, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Three occupants of a van were killed early Wednesday when it traveled into the path of an 18-wheeler in Stillmore, according to authorities.

The fatal crash was among a string of them across the region this week.

In Emanuel County

Coroner Jeffrey Peebles said the Stillmore crash happened around 6 a.m. Wednesday at Georgia Highway 57 and Poplar Avenue.

Peebles says it’s believed the van was traveling north and drove into the path of the truck.

Three people died at the scene and one was taken to the Augusta University Medical Center trauma unit, Peebles said.

The three people killed were identified Thursday as:

Mitchell Carter, 45, of Appling County
Thelmon Crabb, 63, of Montgomery County
Ruben Gonzalez-Velasquez, 44, of Toombs County

The Georgia State Patrol is investigating the crash.

In Orangeburg County

Across the Savannah River, the South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating separate single-vehicle crashes that killed three people in Orangeburg County.

The most recent one happened Wednesday morning around 2:28 a.m.

According to Trooper Nick Pye, a 2017 Toyota SUV was traveling east on Interstate 26 when it ran off the right side of the road near mile marker 157.

The sport utility vehicle struck a guardrail and then a bridge pillar. The driver suffered fatal injuries.

Their identity hadn’t been released by late Wednesday afternoon.

Another accident happened Tuesday around 5:30 p.m. on Vance Road near U.S. 15 in Orangeburg County.

Troopers say a 2010 Ford pickup was traveling east on Vance Road, veered off the road, and struck a tree.

According to the Orangeburg County chief deputy coroner, Travis J. Brown, 36, of Santee, died of blunt-force injuries.

Also in Orangeburg County, troopers say a driver died after their vehicle overturned several times around 4:15 a.m. Sunday.

A 2009 Toyota four-door was traveling west on S.C. Highway 6 near Red Bank Road highway and went off the left side of the road and hit a drainage ditch, according to Master Trooper David Jones.

The driver of the vehicle was taken to a hospital and later died.

In Edgefield County

Meanwhile, a man died after an Edgefield County crash that happened a few days ago.

The two-vehicle crash occurred around 11:20 p.m. Aug. 8 on South Carolina Highway 19 near Courtney Road.

Troopers say a 2017 Honda Sedan was traveling south on Highway 19, crossed center, and struck a northbound Chevrolet.

The Honda traveled off the left side of the road, hit a culvert and overturned.

Tommy A. Glover, 82, of Trenton, S.C. was the only occupant in the Honda. He died Tuesday at Augusta University Medical Center, according to Coroner David Burnett.

According to officials, the driver of the Chevrolet was not injured.

In Richmond County

On Monday afternoon, a man on a dirt bike was killed in a crash with a school bus at Old McDuffie and Kenny roads in Augusta.

He tried to the bus in a no-ing zone while the bus was turning left and struck the bus, according to deputies.

Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen identified the cyclist as Melvin R. Morrison, 45, of the 2200 block of Nellie Drive.

There was one student on the bus along with the driver, and they were not injured.

According to dispatchers, the call came in at 5:07 p.m. Monday.

In Aiken County

A single-vehicle accident temporarily knocked out a power circuit in a northern portion of Aiken County around 6:15 p.m. Sunday and resulted in the death of the driver.

An SUV overturned and ran into an electrical pole at Coleman Bridge and Quattlebaum roads, cutting a power circuit to shut off.

The vehicle caught fire.

The driver was identified Thursday as 22-year-old Anthony F. Meunier, of Aiken. A toxicology analysis is pending.