Lexington Man Dies in 4-Vehicle Crash; Driver Charged

A Lexington man died Monday after his truck was struck by a vehicle that lost control and drove into oncoming traffic, according to the Lexington County Coroner's Office. 

Ronald W. Mitchell, 64, of Lexington was pronounced dead at the scene due to multiple trauma, Coroner Harry Harman said. He was not wearing a seatbealt at the time of the crash.

The driver of the truck that struck Mitchell, 19-year-old Sheldon Dubois, is charged with reckless driving, driving under suspension and leaving the scene of an accident involving death, said Lance Cpl. Brent Kelly with the S.C. Highway Patrol. His 17-year-old passenger is also charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving death.

Troopers say Dubois and the 17-year-old fled the scene after the acccident at the intersection of Edmund Highway and Trade Zone Drive in West Columbia, but were later caught and arrested. 

Dubois was traveling eastbound on Edmund Higway toward South Congaree around 3 p.m. when he lost control, swerved onto the other side of the road and struck Mitchell's truck, Kelly said. 

The collision caused a chain reaction, and a Ford Thunderbird and a U.S. Postal Service truck also crashed, Kelly said.

The coroner's office and the S.C. Highway Patrol are investigating the incident.