RIDGEWAY – A pedestrian walking down Longtown Road near Mood Harrison Road was killed Sept. 24 when he was struck not once but twice by two different vehicles in the pre-dawn rain.
Fairfield County Coroner Barkley Ramsey said Devante Christopher Middleton, 22, of 2796 Mood Harrison Road, was walking east down Longtown Road at approximately 6:45 a.m. when he was struck by a 2002 Honda Accord, also traveling east. The S.C. Highway Patrol said Middleton was walking illegally in the middle of the road when he was struck and Ramsey said Middleton was wearing dark-colored clothing, making him difficult if not impossible to see.
The driver of the Honda did see Middleton at the last second, Ramsey said, and swerved to avoid him, but it was too late.
Middleton was only injured, however, and lying in the west-bound lane of Longtown Road. The driver of the Honda pulled over, got out of the car and spoke with Middleton, Ramsey said, and called 9-1-1 for help.
But while the driver was on the phone with 9-1-1, Ramsey said, a second car traveling in the west-bound lane struck Middleton a second time, this time fatally.
The second car did not stop, the Highway Patrol said, and was described only as a dark-colored vehicle with tinted windows.
The incident remains under investigation by the Highway Patrol.
