State trooper hospitalized after crash in Georgetown County

PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. (WMBF) - A crash in part of the Grand Strand sent a South Carolina State Trooper to the hospital over the weekend.

According to an incident report obtained by WMBF News, deputies from the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office were called to a wreck on Highway 17 near Hagley Drive early Sunday.

Documents state a deputy saw a South Carolina Highway Patrol vehicle overturned on the right shoulder of the highway and a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox with “severe debilitating damage” in the median.

The deputy then spoke with the driver of the Chevrolet, who was not injured. The driver reportedly said they were turning left to go into Pawley’s Plantation when they “saw the marked patrol unit with emergency lights and sirens activated but did not think the patrol vehicle was close as it was.” They also noted the patrol vehicle was going at a high rate of speed.

A witness gave a similar account, according to the report.

The trooper had already been taken to a hospital after being trapped in the vehicle and getting themselves out.

The incident report goes on to state dashcam video showed the patrol vehicle going down the highway with lights and sirens on when the Chevrolet made a left turn going onto Pawleys Plantation Way “but stopped in the roadway blocking US 17 northbound.”

The footage also reportedly showed the patrol vehicle going into another lane to avoid the crash but corrected back when the Chevrolet was seen blocking the road - which led to the collision.

The patrol vehicle drove through the crash and spun onto the shoulder of the highway before overturning.

The driver of the Chevrolet was later cited for failure to yield the right of way.

An update on the condition of the trooper involved was not immediately provided.

Stay WMBF News for updates.