NEW YORK (TIP): Three women from India were killed and another person was hospitalized Saturday, April 27, after a speeding sports utility vehicle went airborne and crashed into trees in South Carolina, according to local media reports.
The crash occurred at noon Friday on Staunton Bridge Road along Interstate 85 near Lakeside Road, in Greenville County, media reports said, citing Chief Deputy Coroner Mike Ellis.
The coroner’s office on Saturday identified the deceased women as Manisha Rajendra Patel, Sangita Bhavnesh Patel and Rekhaben Dilip Patel from India. The cause of their death was listed as blunt force trauma.
The victims are identified as being from the Anand District in the state of Gujarat.
Ellis said the SUV was speeding north on I-85 when it crossed all lanes of traffic, ran up the embankment, flew some 20 feet over a bridge and crashed into trees on the other side of the bridge.
“When the vehicle jumped all four lanes of traffic, it actually struck trees probably at least 20 feet above the ground,” he said. “It’s obvious that they were travelling above the posted speed limit and for some reason left the roadway,” Ellis said, adding, “Unsure exactly why at this time.”
“Very seldom do you see a vehicle that leaves the roadway at such a high rate of speed that it jumps 4-6 lanes of traffic and lands in the trees approximately 20 feet,” Ellis was quoted as saying. “When you got family, probably related, three deceased, it is nothing that you want to ever see.”
Officers confirmed three passengers died on the scene. The injured driver was hospitalized, and their condition is unknown. Ellis said the vehicle’s alert system notified the victims’ family members, who then alerted local authorities.
Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the crash.