South Carolina Higway Patrol is investigating four deaths on the highway today, all of them occuring in the early morning hours.
At 1:00 a.m. the driver of a motorcycle died after losing control at the intersection of highway 501 and Broadway Street in Myrtle Beach.
Horry County Coroner Robert Edge says the victim is 21-year-old Alexander M. Savage. Edge says Savage died at the scene from internal injuries. The victim recently moved to Myrtle Beach from Utah.
Lance Corporal Sonny Collins with the Highway Partrol says right before the crash the victim was attempting to elude Horry County Police. No word yet on why he was being pursued.
At 1:55 a.m. a deadly accident occurred at the intersection of highway 261 and F.C. Cox Road in Williamsburg County about a mile west of Hemingway city limits.
Collins says the driver of a 2003 Dodge Durango traveling on highway 261 was being pursued by Hemingway Police officers when he hit a Ford Expedition. The driver of the Expedition stopped at the stop sign along F.C. Cox Road and was hit when he crossed 261.
Williamsburg County Deputy Coroner Vernell Fulton says the victim, the driver of the Durango, is 47-year-old Alvin Bernard Simmons of Hemingway. Chief Brian Todd with Hemingway Police Department says he's not releasing any information about the crash at this time. The driver of the Expedition was taken to an area hospital.
Around 2:00 a.m. Collins says a person walking on highway 9 was killed.
Troopers say a 2004 Chevrolet pick-up truck was exiting highway 31 onto highway 9 when it hit a person walking in the road. The pedestrian was killed.
The driver of the pick-up was not hurt and won't be charged.
At 6:50 a.m. a deadly accident happened on highway 707 near Bay Road in Horry County. Collins says the driver of a Chevrolet pick-up truck crossed the center line hitting a minivan head on.
Edge says the victim is 23-year-old Dentrell Palmer who lives off highway 707. He was pronounced dead at the scene from internal injuries and was not wearing a seat belt.
Collins says the driver of the minivan was taken to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center for treatment. That driver was wearing a seat belt.
Collins is urging everyone to use caution and patience this weekend due to the heavier than normal traffic volumes
