Swansea, SC (Paul Kirby) – A fatal collision that occurred on Southbound Road (Hwy 321 s) at Lewis Rast Road just outside of the town of Swansea killed a vehicle’s driver and destroyed a utility pole knocking out power to that area Saturday night. The collision happened at approximately 8:40 p.m.
According to Lance Corporal Tyler Tidwell of the SCHP, the vehicle, a 2000 Ford Mustang, was travelling toward Columbia when the driver veered off the right side of the road, struck a utility pole, and came to rest in a field between the Lexington District Four schools and Southbound Road. The impact of the collision broke the utility pole making it necessary for Dominion Energy to replace it before electricity could be restored in that area.

The fire service’s battalion chief had his dispatch center notify Dominion Energy that their crew needed to bring a replacement pole with them when they responded. This would allow them to expedite the restoration of electricity in the area.
The driver of the Mustang was the only occupant of the vehicle. According to Lance Corporal Tidwell, that person was wearing their safety belt but died at the scene as a result of their injuries.
Personnel from Lexington County EMS, the fire service, and law enforcement responded quickly and arrived within moments. Eventually, troopers from the South Carolina State Highway Patrol also arrived on scene. The troopers will be responsible for investigating the collision.
Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher’s office had deputies on the scene as well. They will be responsible for identifying the decedent once the proper notifications have been made. Only then will she release that individual’s identity to the public.
