A tragic accident in Berkeley County, South Carolina, claimed the life of a North Charleston woman on Thursday afternoon after a single-vehicle crash on Calestown Road.
Crash Details
According to South Carolina Highway Patrol Master Trooper Frank Virzi, the wreck occurred around 2:55 p.m. on Sept. 11. A 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling south on Calestown Road near Gumville Road ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree.
The driver was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. A passenger sitting in the backseat, identified as 37-year-old Maria E. Aguilar Velasquez of North Charleston, suffered fatal injuries.
The Berkeley County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Velasquez was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Emergency Response
The coroner’s office was notified at approximately 3:09 p.m. Multiple agencies responded, including:
Berkeley County Coroner’s Office
Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office
Berkeley County EMS
North Berkeley Fire & Rescue
South Carolina Highway Patrol
Investigation Ongoing
The fatal collision remains under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Berkeley County Coroner’s Office, which are working to determine the contributing factors.
The sudden death of Maria Aguilar Velasquez is a devastating reminder of the importance of roadway safety and seatbelt use. As investigators continue their work, her family and community are left to grieve a life lost far too soon.
