The South Carolina mayor killed in a car crash was the subject of a police investigation

The mayor of a South Carolina city died in a car accident Tuesday afternoon. Authorities said he was being pursued by sheriff’s deputies at the time of the crash.

McColl, SC Mayor George Garner II was killed following a collision with another vehicle in the town of Mechanicsville, SC in Darlington County on November 26th at approximately 2:40 p.m. Garner was recently re-elected as mayor of McColl, a town of about 1,900 people in Marlboro County, SC

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 crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a Volvo tractor-trailer. Garner, the sole occupant of the vehicle he was driving, was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died from 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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The mayor of SC was chased by a 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 prosecution was not related to any violations of the law,” Hardee wrote in the statement posted to his Facebook page. “The prosecution was carried out in an effort to protect Mr. Garner’s well-being.”

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

Hardee wrote that the accident 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 SC

Last month, McColl’s police chief and four other police officers, including the city’s entire police force, resigned, citing “unwanted and malicious behavior” in a message posted on social media that has since been removed, according to South Carolina Public Radio.

The South Carolina Department of Law Enforcement confirmed Wednesday that Garner remains an active and ongoing investigation, but did not provide further details.

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

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

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