Serious Incident Involving Trooper in Lexington County

Lexington County, South Carolina, September 11, 2025

News Summary

Master Trooper Wayne H. LaBounty of the South Carolina Highway Patrol is in serious condition after being struck by a vehicle during a traffic stop in Lexington County. The accident occurred early Tuesday on Augusta Highway, with a truck colliding with both the trooper’s and a deputy’s vehicles. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the driver of the truck did not stop in time, resulting in a serious crash. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the incident, as community discussions about roadside safety for law enforcement intensify.

Lexington County, South Carolina – Master Trooper Wayne H. LaBounty of the South Carolina Highway Patrol is in serious condition after being struck by a vehicle during a traffic stop early Tuesday morning. The incident took place around 7 a.m. on Augusta Highway (Highway 1), near Lost Branch Road and Calks Ferry Road.

Trooper LaBounty has been airlifted to Prisma Health hospital due to the severity of his injuries. Eyewitness reports indicate that a deputy from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department had slowed down to check on LaBounty when a red truck, traveling in the same lane, failed to stop in time. This resulted in the truck colliding with both the deputy’s vehicle and Trooper LaBounty’s stopped vehicle before also impacting an unrelated vehicle.

LaBounty was outside of his patrol car at the time of the collision and was subsequently struck by the out-of-control truck. Video footage from the scene shows significant damage to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department vehicle and the red truck, which ended up in a ditch.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is currently investigating the incident given the involvement of both the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. The driver of the truck has been released pending the outcome of this investigation.

State Representative Chris Wooten has voiced concern for Trooper LaBounty, highlighting the inherent dangers that law enforcement officers face during traffic stops. This alarming incident marks the third time in just one month that a South Carolina state trooper has been struck by a vehicle in the Midlands area.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety has reiterated its appeal for drivers to slow down, move over for emergency vehicles, and refrain from driving while impaired, emphasizing the critical need for safety on roadways, especially for law enforcement personnel.

In response to this unfortunate situation, the nonprofit organization Serve & Connect has initiated a fundraising campaign to assist with the recovery process for Master Trooper LaBounty.

As a result of the collision, all lanes of Highway 1 were temporarily closed, but they have since reopened for normal traffic flow.

Background

This incident follows a concerning trend in the Midlands, where multiple law enforcement officers serving on the South Carolina Highway Patrol have found themselves at risk due to vehicular collisions while performing their duties. The repeated occurrences have raised alarms about roadside safety for officers and have prompted community discussions about driver behavior when approaching emergency scenes.

Key Information Recap

• Injured Officer: Master Trooper Wayne H. LaBounty
• Condition: Serious, airlifted to Prisma Health Hospital
• Time of Incident: 7 a.m. on Tuesday
• Location: Augusta Highway (Highway 1) near Lost Branch Road and Calks Ferry Road
• Current Investigation: Conducted by Richland County Sheriff’s Department
• Fundraiser: Initiated by Serve & Connect to assist in recovery

FAQs

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Additional Resources

• WIS TV
• Wikipedia: Lexington County, South Carolina
• WLTX
• Google Search: Traffic Safety Laws
• WBTV
• Google News: South Carolina Traffic Safety
• The State
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Vehicle Safety
• WPDE
• Google Scholar: Safety for Law Enforcement Officers

Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER

The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexington.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.