A 21-year-old Conway woman was killed in a three-vehicle crash Sunday night on Interstate 20 in Kershaw County, according to the S.C. Highway Patrol.
Morgan L. Hughes, 21, of Conway, was pronounced dead at the crash scene, said Kershaw County Coroner John B. Fellers. Hughes was a senior at Winthrop University in Rock Hill.
The crash happened about 8 p.m. Sunday on I-20 at the 98 mile marker, said Lance Cpl. Brent Kelly with the Highway Patrol.
Hughes was a front seat passenger in a 2005 Suzuki that was driven by a 21-year-old woman from Myrtle Beach, Kelly said. Hughes and the driver were wearing seatbelts.
A third woman was riding in the rear seat of the vehicle and she was flown to Palmetto Health Richland Hospital in Columbia, Kelly said. Information about her and her condition were not immediately available.
According to a press release from Winthrop, Hughes – a senior special education student – served as treasurer of the school’s quidditch team and presented at a state math conference last week with faculty from the Richard H. Wiley College of Education. She also held an internship at Chester High School.
The school identified the women who were injured in the accident as junior Christian McBee and senior Caitlin Livingston. The three women were roommates.
Livingston was scheduled to be released from Palmetto Health Richland Hospital in Columbia on Monday, but McBee was expected to remain in the hospital, according to the release.
“Our campus is truly lessened by Morgan’s passing,’’ said Vice President for Student Life Frank Ardaiolo. “Please join me in sending our thoughts and prayers to Morgan’s family as we also pray for a quick and full recovery for Christian and Caitlin.”
Their vehicle was struck in the rear by a 2006 Mercedes Sport Utility Vehicle driven by an 18-year-old man from Sewell, N.J., who was taken by EMS to Palmetto Health Richland Hospital, Kelly said. His condition was not available, but he was wearing a seatbelt.
The Suzuki driven by the Myrtle Beach woman and another vehicle, a 2009 Honda SUV driven by a 16-year-old from Leesville, were slowing for traffic as they traveled west on I-20, Kelly said. The Mercedes driven by the N.J. man struck the Myrtle Beach woman’s Suzuki in the rear, which caused it to turn over into the median and hit the cable barrier.
The man’s vehicle then hit the Honda driven by the 16-year-old, who was wearing a seatbelt and not hurt, Kelly said. There was a passenger in the Honda, but that person was not hurt and wore a seatbelt.
Winthrop had not scheduled an on-campus memorial service as of Monday evening.
Reporter Maya T. Prabhu contributed to this report.
Contact TONYA ROOT at 444-1723.
