A 63-year-old Boiling Springs man has died following a crash on Highway 9 near Hames Road in Spartanburg County. Joseph Wofford was pronounced dead at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center after the crash, which happened Wednesday.
The Spartanburg County Coroner's Office reported that one person died in the crash, according to FOX Carolina News. The South Carolina Highway Patrol is conducting the investigation into what happened on the stretch of highway near Hames Road.
Limited Details Released So Far
Beyond identifying Wofford and confirming where the crash occurred, officials have not released further specifics. The circumstances of the crash, including what led up to it, have not been disclosed, and it remains unclear when investigators might release additional findings.
Highway 9 has seen other serious wrecks in Spartanburg County in recent months. Earlier this month, 95-year-old Mabel Turner of Laurens died days after being hospitalized following a separate crash in the county, the station's report noted. And in February 2025, a northbound Chevy and a southbound Dodge Ram collided head-on on Highway 9 near Melvin Hill Road, killing 37-year-old Sarah Shelle Russell of Chesnee while the other vehicle's sole occupant was hospitalized with injuries, per the same outlet.
Statewide Numbers Show a Mixed Picture
Zooming out, South Carolina's overall traffic death toll has actually been trending down. The state recorded 363 traffic fatalities through June 7, 2026, compared with 408 over the same stretch in 2025 and 457 in 2023, according to The State. That marks a decline of more than 20% from 2023 to 2026 as of that date, the newspaper reported.
Still, South Carolina's roads remain among the deadliest in the nation. The state posted 19.5 traffic deaths per 100,000 people in 2023, ranking fourth-highest among all states for collision deaths, per The State's reporting. Preliminary figures from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety are based on fatal collisions compiled through 11:59 p.m. on October 25, 2026, so they do not reflect Wednesday's crash.
No further information about Wofford's crash, including any potential findings from the Highway Patrol's investigation, has been made public. Hoodline will update this story as more details become available.
