South Carolina mayor killed in car accident was subject of law enforcement investigation

The mayor of a South Carolina town died in a car wreck Tuesday afternoon, with authorities saying that he was being pursued by sheriff's deputies when the crash occurred.

McColl, S.C. Mayor George Garner II was killed after a collision with another vehicle in the Darlington County town of Mechanicsville, S.C., about 2:40 p.m. on Nov. 26. Garner was recently reelected as mayor of McColl, a town of about 1,900 people in Marlboro County, S.C.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol confirmed to both South Carolina Public Radio and The State newspaper that Garner was driving a 2007 Chevy Tahoe when he veered into oncoming traffic and struck a Volvo tractor trailer. Garner, who was the only occupant in the vehicle he was driving, was taken to a nearby hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The driver of the tractor trailer was injured and treated at the same hospital. The South Carolina Highway Patrol did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY.

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S.C. mayor was pursued by sheriff's deputy

Darlington County Coroner J. Todd Hardee wrote Tuesday that Garner was being pursued by a Marlboro County sheriff's deputy at the time of the crash.

"The pursuit was not related to any laws being broken," Hardee wrote in the statement, which was posted to his Facebook page. "The pursuit was taking place in an effort to protect the well being of Mr. Garner."

Marlboro County Sheriff Charles Lemon on Wednesday told WBTW News13 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. that officers were behind Garner but not “pursuing him” when he crashed head-on into an 18-wheeler and died. He said deputies started following him after Garner's wife contacted the sheriff’s office and they thought they needed to check in on Garner.

Hardee wrote that the crash remains under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol's Major Accident Investigation Team.

Attempts to contact the Marlboro County Sheriff's Department on Wednesday were unsuccessful.

Police resignations and investigations in S.C.

Last month, McColl's police chief and four other law enforcement officials, comprising the entirety of the town's police force, resigned, citing "'unwanted and malicious behavior,'" in a message posted to social media that has since been removed, according to South Carolina Public Radio.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division confirmed Wednesday that Garner remains the subject of an active and ongoing investigation, but did not disclose any further details.

This is a developing story and has been updated with new information.

Max Hauptman is a Trending Reporter for USA TODAY. He can be reached at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: South Carolina mayor killed in car accident during police pursuit