Troopers arrest driver who was behind the wheel when two women were killed in Lexington County crash Sunday night

Lexington, SC 05/21/2025 (Paul Kirby) – SC State Troopers have arrested the driver of a Jeep that was involved in a Sunday night crash that killed 2 young women. Abel Ramierz Ortega is charged with two counts of felony driving under the influence resulting in death, driving under suspension, and driving without a license.

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This collision occurred on Sunday night just before 9:00 p.m. at the intersection of Neely Wingard Road and Ben Franklin Road. According to the SCHP’s MAIT Team, Ortega was driving in a Jeep on Ben Franklin Road when he disregarded the sign at Neely Wingard Road and struck a Chevrolet Malibu that 22-year-old Claire Pierce, of Lexington, and 21-year-old Eliza Udy of Leesville were both travelling in. The driver of vehicle that the women were in was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Ortega was the only person in the jeep at the time of the collision. Jail records indicate that Ortega was no longer in the Lexington County Detention Center Wednesday afternoon.