Georgetown County Coroner identifies man who died in Murrells Inlet retention pond
The Georgetown County Coroner’s Office has identified the man who died after driving his truck into a Murrells Inlet retention pond on Christmas Eve.
The victim was John Singleton Jr., 86, of Murrells Inlet, according to Georgetown County Coroner Kenny Johnson. An autopsy is still pending, Johnson said, with the result of death still not clear.
At approximately 5:40 p.m., a 1998 Chevrolet pickup was traveling west on Bellamy Avenue when it veered off the left side of the road and went into a retention pond, Cpl. Sonny Collins with the South Carolina Highway Patrol said.
Personnel from the Murrells Inlet-Garden City Fire Department and Horry County Fire Rescue responded to to the area on Tuesday evening, sending divers into the pond in attempt to save those stuck in the truck. After an extensive operation, rescue efforts proved unsuccessful, according to authorities, who pulled the truck out of the pond a little before 8 p.m.
The victim was dead on arrival to the hospital, officials said.
