UPDATED: Three Vehicle Accident Kills Two In North Augusta

***9:55 a.m. Update***

Press release form the Aiken County Coroner’s Office:
A three vehicle collision in North Augusta SC has caused the death of two people. The crash happened at approximately 9:10 am this morning. A Cadillac driven by Anthony L. Williams, 58, of Augusta GA.was traveling north in the southbound lane of Highway #1 when he sideswiped a south bound 2008 Dodge P/U Truck then the Cadillac struck a 2005 Chrysler Mini Van which was also traveling south toward Augusta. Mr. Williams was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. A passenger in the Chrysler Van,  Ms. Erma Harron, 76yo, of Richmond Hill GA was also pronounced dead at the scene. Both died from multiple body trauma. Ms. Harron was wearing a seatbelt. Three others were injured in this crash and transported to Medical College of Georgia with non life threatening injuries. The cause of this crash is under investigation by the North Augusta Dept. of Public Safety and the Aiken County Coroner’s Office. These two deaths bring the number of fatalities to 26 in Aiken County this year.

——————————————-

North Augusta, SC—A Sunday morning accident claims two lives. It happened along Highway 1, near the Hippodrome in North Augusta, just after 9 a.m. Investigators believe the driver of a Cadillac was traveling at a high rate of speed in the wrong lane, heading north in the southbound lane. It’s believed that the driver, 58-year-old Anthony Williams, struck his car against a pickup truck and then a van. Williams was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

The driver of the pickup truck was not injured, despite being hit head on by the Williams’ Cadillac, according to investigators.  The other fatality was 76-year-old Erma Martha Harron, who was a rear seat passenger in the van that was also struck by Williams’ Cadillac.  The driver of the van and another passenger were taken to The Medical College of Georgia with non-life threatening injuries.

Official Release from North Augusta Public Safety (via email):

At 9:17 am, Sunday, August 02, 2009, North Augusta Public Safety Officers responded to a traffic collision on US 1 in front of the Hippodrome. Upon arrival, officers found two individuals deceased. Investigation revealed that a 1993 Cadillac (driven by Anthony L. Williams, 816 Spruce Street, Augusta, GA, 58 years old) was traveling north on US 1 on the wrong side of the roadway (in the southbound lane) at a high rate of speed. As this Cadillac crested the hill, just east of I-520, the Cadillac struck a 2008 Dodge pickup truck head on. The driver of the pickup truck did not require any immediate medical attention. The Cadillac continued north on US 1, in the southbound lanes and struck a 2005 Chrysler Van before coming to rest. Two occupants in the van (driver and front passenger, both restrained) were taken to the Medical College of Georgia Emergency Room with incapacitating injuries. A rear passenger in the van (Erma Martha Harron, Balfour Drive, Richmond Hill, GA, 76 years old, also wearing a seat belt) was found deceased at the scene. The driver of the Cadillac (Williams) was also pronounced deceased at the scene due to blunt force trauma (pronounced by Aiken County Coroner’s Office). NADPS officers have requested toxicology reports from the Coroner’s Office as they continue their investigation.