Man Dead In Fatal Car Crash After Hitting Tree In High-Speed Police Chase

A South Carolina man reportedly died in a high-speed police chase after the vehicle he was driving hit a tree on Beaver Dam Road in Aiken County on Wednesday, Nov. 3.

David L. Williams Jr., 26, has been reported dead after he lost control of his 2005 Ford Crown Victoria, went off the left side of the road, and collided with a tree while fleeing from law enforcement in a high-speed police chase. The crash occurred at about 6:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 3, on Beaver Dam Road near Vintage Vale Road in Aiken, the Augusta Press reported.

According to an incident report obtained from the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, Williams' car failed to stop for the posted stop sign on Reynolds Pond Road, made a left onto Columbia Highway, and then “proceeded to weave in and out of traffic in a posted 35 mph school zone at a high rate of speed.”

Williams then drove at a speed of more than 100 mph and failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of Beaver Dam Road and Wire Road.

An officer who was following the vehicle lost sight of Williams and his Ford Crown Victoria until he came across the vehicle and saw that it had crashed in the wood line near Vintage Vale Road.

“The driver lost control of the vehicle and ran off the left side of the road then struck a tree,” a news release from the Aiken County Coroner’s Office stated.

The responding officer noticed that Williams was pinned inside the vehicle and requested fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to immediately respond to the scene, according to The Post and Courier.

Following this, deputies from Aiken County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area and unrestrained Williams. Meanwhile, Center Fire Department and Aiken County Emergency Services extracted him from the wrecked vehicle.

Due to the severity of Williams’ injuries, the Sheriff’s Office requested a medical helicopter and transported him to Augusta University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead from his injuries.

Williams has had five speeding tickets in Aiken County over the last five years. He was also on probation for a cocaine conviction and has other previous drug and weapons charges, including a stolen pistol offense.

South Carolina Highway Patrol is currently investigating the incident.