FAIRFIELD COUNTY – A Winnsboro woman and her 2-year-old son lost their lives New Year’s Eve in a crash on I-77.
Fairfield County Coroner Chris Hill identified the woman as Ashley Hawkins of Winnsboro. Hawkins was the driver of the vehicle.
According to Hill, the accident occurred at about 11:45 p.m., Dec. 31. The vehicle was traveling north on Interstate 77 near Exit 32 when it went off the right shoulder of the highway and then over corrected, striking several trees. The vehicle then overturned ejecting Mekia Simmons, age 2, who was identified as the son of the deceased.
An autopsy to determine the cause of death is scheduled for this week in Newberry.
No further information about the accident is available at this time.
The Fairfield County Coroner’s Office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol continue to investigate this accident.