AIKEN - A 31-year-old Aiken man was killed Monday morning in a two-car crash on U.S. Highway 1 that blocked the road for several hours.
Malcolm Johnson, who had an address on Mark Anthony Drive, died of severe head injuries, Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton said.
Authorities said that Mr. Johnson was driving a 1998 Honda Civic toward Aiken when he was hit by a Ford pickup just east of Bobby's Bar-B-Q Buffet & Catering.
The truck, driven by 63-year-old James Knight, of Columbia, was hauling a trailer with a heavy load of construction debris.
The Ford was headed toward Augusta on when the driver left the right side of the road, overcorrected and then crossed the median and hit Mr. Johnson's car, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Mr. Johnson was pronounced dead on the scene, Mr. Carlton said. He was not wearing a seat belt.
Mr. Knight, who also was not buckled up, was taken to Aiken Regional Medical Centers with nonlife-threatening injuries, Mr. Carlton said.
The wreckage from the Honda, pickup and trailer blocked both northbound lanes of U.S. 1 for several hours Monday, and debris and dirt from the open trailer was scattered across the road.
Traffic was diverted west of Aiken Technical College for about 4 hours.
Lance Cpl. Scot Edgeworth, spokesman for the highway patrol, said charges are pending.
Reach Sandi Martin at (803) 648-1395, ext. 111, or sandi.martin@augustachronicle.com.
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