By Mike McCombs
New Year’s weekend was a deadly one on Beaufort’s roads as two pedestrians were struck and killed by vehicles.
The first incident occurred around 6:20 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 31 on U.S. 21 – the 3100 block of Trask Parkway – near Glass Road.
According to S.C. Highway Patrol Corporal David Jones, a pedestrian – Robert McCoy, 59, of Beaufort – was killed when he was struck by a 2006 Chevrolet van. McCoy and the van were traveling northbound on U.S. 21.
The Burton Fire District, Beaufort County EMS, The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and the S.C. Highway Patrol (SCHP) all responded to the report of the collision.
U.S. 21 Northbound (toward Sheldon) was closed in this area for more than two hours while those involved were tended to and the scene was investigated.
The driver of the van was not injured.
The second incident happened early on New Year’s Day.
Around 12:30 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 1, on Broad River Blvd. near Parris Island Gateway, a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle that left the scene, then struck again by a second vehicle that remained on scene.
Burton Fire District and Beaufort County EMS responded. EMS pronounced him deceased at the scene and the SCHP took over the investgation.
The Beaufort County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased as Bruce Singleton, 58, of Beaufort.
According to Master Trooper Brandon Bolt, the vehicle that struck Singleton was traveling west on Broad River Blvd.
Both collisions remain under investigation by the SCHP.
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
