Update: Pedestrian ID'd in Garners Ferry Road Accident

Update, 3:25 p.m.: Richland County Coroner Gary Watts has released the name of the pedestrian who died early Friday morning after being struck by a vehicle on Garners Ferry Road.

Kelly L. Mitchell, 38, of Columbia, was struck in the roadway in the 7900 block of Garners Ferry Road around 1 a.m. and died at the scene, Watts said.

"An autopsy conducted this morning shows that he died from trauma associated with being struck by the vehicle," he said.

According to the S.C. Highway Patrol, a vehicle, driven by 33-year-old Vetresha Branch of Columbia, struck the victim.

Lance Cpl. Judd Jones said Branch was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured in the incident.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating.




Original story: The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal accident that occurred early Friday morning on Garners Ferry Road.

A pedestrian was walking in the roadway when the person was struck and killed by a 2008 Suziki around 1:07 a.m., said Lance Cpl. Judd Jones.

The vehicle was driven by 33-year-old Vetresha Branch of Columbia, Jones said. Branch was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured in the incident.

The pedestrian, whose identity has not been released by the Richland County Coroner's Office, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident remains under investigation by highway patrol.