A 21-year-old Rock Hill man is facing serious charges after a violent multi-vehicle crash on Celanese Road that left a woman dead yesterday, according to police. Investigators say the driver’s car crossed the median after coming off the Interstate 77 ramp and plowed into multiple vehicles. One of those drivers was taken to Piedmont Medical Center and later died. Police say the investigation is still active.
According to WSOCTV, Rock Hill police identified the driver as Joel Laron Smith. Officers told the station that Smith was speeding as he exited I-77 when his Hyundai went airborne, crossed the median and slammed into two other vehicles. Smith was arrested and charged with reckless homicide and operating an uninsured vehicle, authorities said. Investigators reported that speed was a factor, and the department’s Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction team is still working the case.
What the charge carries
Under South Carolina law, reckless homicide applies when a death results "as a proximate result of injury received by the driving of a vehicle in reckless disregard of the safety of others." It is a felony, with statutory penalties that can include fines and up to 10 years in prison, along with a possible multi-year driver’s license revocation, according to state code. The statute is detailed by the South Carolina Legislature.
Celanese Road safety concerns
Celanese Road, the busy corridor near I-77 where the crash happened, has been the site of multiple serious collisions in recent years, drawing scrutiny from both residents and law enforcement. Regional traffic data and past reporting highlight that the stretch carries heavy volumes and has seen fatal crashes before, fueling long-running questions about how safe it really is.
Local coverage of earlier incidents and state traffic-count resources add context to the road’s risk profile, including tools from the S.C. Department of Transportation and reporting from WBTV.
Rock Hill police say their investigation into Friday’s crash remains open while prosecutors review the arrest and evidence. The department has not released information about any scheduled court dates. Authorities have asked anyone with information about the wreck to contact the Rock Hill Police Department, and WSOCTV confirmed the arrest and charges. The deadly crash has once again put a spotlight on safety concerns along one of the city’s busiest routes.
