Lexington County, SC, October 21, 2025
News Summary
Two tragic crashes in Lexington County, South Carolina, resulted in the deaths of three individuals over the weekend. The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the incidents, which include a collision on I-20 and another on Ben Franklin Road. Victims include a single occupant struck by a deer and two young passengers in a vehicle collision. Authorities are looking into the circumstances surrounding these accidents.
Lexington County, S.C. — Two Dead in Separate Crashes
Two tragic crashes in Lexington County, South Carolina, have resulted in the deaths of three individuals in separate incidents over the weekend. The South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) is actively investigating both cases.
Fatal Incident on I-20
The first incident occurred on Monday morning on westbound I-20 near mile marker 42, just west of Batesburg-Leesville. A 2024 Ford Maverick truck, driven by 55-year-old George Woodrow Stoudemire III of Lexington, struck a deer, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and collide with a tree. Stoudemire, who was the only occupant of the truck, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
According to Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher, the driver was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. The SCHP and the coroner’s office are conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Deadly Collision on Ben Franklin Road
A separate crash on Sunday night resulted in the deaths of two young passengers in a vehicle collision at the intersection of Neely Wingard Road and Ben Franklin Road. The collision occurred shortly before 9 p.m. when a 2019 Jeep Laredo, traveling east on Ben Franklin Road, collided with a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu, which was traveling south on Neely Wingard Road.
In the Malibu, three people were present, while the Jeep had only its driver. Two passengers in the Malibu, identified as 22-year-old Claire Pierce of Lexington and 21-year-old Eliza Udy of Leesville, suffered severe injuries. Pierce was pronounced dead at the scene, while Udy was transported to a hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries. The drivers of both vehicles sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals.
As with the first incident, SCHP is continuing to investigate this crash to ascertain the precise causes and factors involved.
Conclusion
These two incidents have raised concerns about road safety in Lexington County. The investigations by the SCHP aim to provide clarity on the factors contributing to these unfortunate accidents.
FAQ
What happened in the crash on I-20 on Monday?
A man died in a crash on I-20 involving a deer on Monday morning. The crash occurred on westbound I-20 near mile marker 42 west of Batesburg-Leesville. A 2024 Ford Maverick truck struck a deer, left the road, and hit a tree. The driver, identified as 55-year-old George Woodrow Stoudemire III of Lexington, was the only person in the vehicle. Stoudemire died at the scene of the crash. Coroner Margaret Fisher confirmed he was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. The South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) and the coroner’s office are investigating the incident.
What occurred in the separate crash on Sunday night?
In a separate crash on Sunday night, two people died in Lexington County. The collision happened shortly before 9 p.m. at the intersection of Neely Wingard Road and Ben Franklin Road. A 2019 Jeep Laredo traveling east on Ben Franklin Road collided with a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu traveling south on Neely Wingard Road. Only the driver was in the Jeep, while three people were inside the Chevy Malibu. Two passengers in the Malibu, identified as 22-year-old Claire Pierce of Lexington and 21-year-old Eliza Udy of Leesville, died as a result of the crash. Pierce was pronounced dead at the scene, while Udy was transported to a hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. Both drivers from the crash were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. SCHP is continuing to investigate both incidents.
Key Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Crash on I-20 | Involved a deer and a single vehicle; 55-year-old George Stoudemire III died. |
| Crash on Ben Franklin Road | Two vehicles involved; 22-year-old Claire Pierce and 21-year-old Eliza Udy died. |
| Investigation Status | Both crashes are under investigation by SCHP. |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Fatal Head-On Collision in Lexington County
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Additional Resources
- WLTX: Fatal Crash on I-20
- WIS TV: Coroner IDs 2 Killed in Crash
- WLTX: 2 Dead in Fatal Crash
- Wikipedia: Main Page
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Main Page
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