A tragic accident claimed one life Monday morning in rural Lexington County when the driver of a 2002 Ford F-350 pickup truck towing a trailer was run over by their own vehicle.
Crash sequence
The truck was southbound on Wagener Highway near Rhoda Rish Road (Leesville area, ~7 miles from I-20 Exit 39) at ~7:15 a.m. when it veered right off the road, striking a ditch, utility pole, and fence. The driver attempted to exit while it was still moving, got run over, and the truck then hit a tree. A passenger escaped unharmed; no seatbelt status reported.
Broader context
Lexington County has seen 12 traffic fatalities in 2026 so far (40 in 2025), part of South Carolina’s 119 road deaths through Sunday. SCHP is investigating the cause—likely speed, distraction, or road conditions on this two-lane rural highway. Coroner hasn’t named the victim yet.
