Lexington County pedestrian hit and killed by 3 vehicles as he walked along US Hwy. 178 near Pelion Thursday

Pelion, SC 10/25/2024 (Paul Kirby) – A Lexington County man in his 70s was hit and killed after at least 3 vehicles struck him while he walked along US Hwy. 178 near the Town of Pelion Thursday evening. According to the Lexington County Coroner’s Office, Robert Barrs, 74, of Pelion was crossing the highway when he was struck by 2 vehicles that then left the scene before a 3rd vehicle eventually struck his body lying in the road and then stopped. This all happened just after 7:15 p.m. in the 900 block of Hwy. 178 near Rucker’s Feed and Seed just east of the Pelion Town limits. The driver of the original vehicle that struck Barrs fled the scene without stopping to check on him, render care, or call for emergency services.

After the first vehicle hit Barrs, video surveillance cameras revealed a total of 34 other vehicles drove past his body, with at least 1 other vehicle hitting him before a 3rd vehicle finally struck his body. No one bothered to call 911 until approximately 7:36 p.m. After emergency responders arrived, Barrs was pronounced dead on the scene due to injuries sustained in the collisions.  

The collisions are being investigated by the SC Highway Patrol’s MAIT Team, the SCHP, and the Lexington County Coroner’s Office.