DARLINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — McColl Mayor George Garner, who died in a two-vehicle crash on Tuesday, was connected to an active SLED investigation, an official told News13.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division spokeswoman Renee Wunderlich said the agency’s probe is “active and ongoing,” adding that no further information was immediately available.
Garner died in a two-vehicle crash on Cashua Ferry Road, Darlington County Coroner Todd Hardee told News13 Tuesday night.
It happened around 2:40 p.m. nine miles outside of Darlington. Garner, 49, was driving westbound in a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe when he veered into the eastbound lane and collided head-on with an 18-wheeler.
Hardee said Garner was being pursued by Marlboro County deputies leading up to the crash.
“When the incident occurred Mr. Garner was being pursued by a Marlboro County deputy. The pursuit not related to any laws being broken. The pursuit was taking place in an effort to protect the well being of Mr. Garner,” he said in a news release Tuesday night. “I will make a ruling on the manner of this death in the coming days. Please keep this family, and the fine folks in our neighboring Marlboro County in your prayers.”
South Carolina Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Lena Butler said Garner died at McLeod Regional Medical Center from injuries sustained in the wreck. The truck driver was also hurt.
Darlington County Sheriff James Hudson Jr. said the South Carolina Highway Patrol’s multi-disciplinary accident team, or MAIT unit, is investigating.
The town of Clio sent its condolences to McColl in a Facebook post on Tuesday night.
“The Town of Clio would like to extend our Prayers to the Town of McColl, the Garner Family, and it’s citizens. As a neighboring town, we pray that God will provide peace & understanding in the days to come. Small towns have big hearts and will rally together in the midst of trials. May God bless McColl,” the message said.
Garner’s death comes at a time of controversy for the town of 2,000 that hugs the North Carolina state line.
On Thursday, McColl’s five-person police force resigned en masse, with former chief Bob Hale saying in a Facebook message that a hostile work environment and inadequate funding were partly to blame for the stunning move.
“This lack of investment hampered our ability to operate at the standard the citizens of the Town of McColl rightfully expect and deserve,” he said in the post. “The safety of the residents and the well-being of the officers should have been prioritized by committing the necessary resources to build a department capable of addressing the complexities of 21st-century policing. Sadly, this was not the case and the majority of my tenure as Chief of Police was spent clearing the names of my officers as well as myself, from the numerous falsehoods that were made against us.”
At 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, a message posted to McColl’s government Facebook page said the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office was providing around-the-clock coverage, and applications were being accepted to fill the vacant positions.
Calls to several town council members on Tuesday weren’t immediately returned.
This is a developing story. Count on News13 for updates.
