A drive along U.S. Highway 601 ended in tragedy Sunday near Kershaw in Lancaster County, when a 2006 Lexus GS 300 ran off the road and hit a tree, killing the driver, according to state troopers. The car was heading northbound when it left the roadway and struck the tree, and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash remains under active investigation, officials said.
According to WCNC, the collision happened on U.S. 601 near Little Dude Avenue when the Lexus went off the left side of the road before striking the tree. Troopers on scene pronounced the motorist dead, and the outlet reports that the driver’s identity is being withheld until family members can be notified.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is leading the probe in Lancaster County, with Troop One covering Kershaw and the surrounding area. The patrol’s site notes that its Multi‑disciplinary Accident Investigation Team "investigates complicated vehicle crashes," a specialized unit that is often called in for fatal wrecks, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
What officials said
Officials told WCNC they have not yet released the driver’s name, in order to notify next of kin first. They also have not announced a probable cause for the crash. Troopers closed or slowed traffic along the affected stretch of U.S. 601 near Little Dude Avenue while they documented the scene and gathered evidence.
Roadway context
State crash data show U.S. 601 is one of Kershaw County’s top corridors for collisions. The South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book lists US‑601 among the county’s most crash‑prone roads in recent years and notes that intersections along I‑20 and U.S. 601 continue to appear as trouble spots for serious crashes. South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book
Investigation underway
SCHP investigators and county officials are continuing to review evidence from the scene and will release additional details as they become available. Authorities have not reported any arrests or charges connected to the wreck. The crash remains under investigation, and the coroner will determine the official cause of death.
