Five Fatal Crashes Over Weekend Leave Midlands Communities Mourning

A series of fatal crashes across the Midlands this past weekend claimed several lives, with law enforcement working to determine the causes behind each tragedy. The accidents, which occurred in Lexington County, Aiken County, and Orangeburg County, have left communities grappling with loss.

In Lexington County, 46-year-old Virginia Burtle lost her life in a head-on collision Saturday morning on South Lake Drive. According to the Lexington County Coroner’s Office, Burtle was driving when her vehicle collided with another car. While Burtle tragically died at the scene, two passengers in her car and the other driver were transported to a local hospital with injuries. The extent of their injuries has not been disclosed, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Later that day, a hit-and-run incident claimed the life of 25-year-old Madelein Lopez-Resendiz on Hartley Quarter Road in Lexington County. Lopez-Resendiz was walking when a vehicle struck her and fled the scene. Authorities are actively seeking information to identify the driver responsible for the hit-and-run, as the community calls for justice in this heartbreaking case.

In Aiken County, two separate motorcycle crashes also resulted in fatalities. On Saturday night, 26-year-old motorcyclist Patrick Laorenzo died after a truck entered Rudy Mason Parkway and caused a collision. Laorenzo was pronounced dead at the scene, and a toxicology analysis is pending to determine if substances were involved.

Early Sunday morning, another motorcycle crash on Jefferson Davis Highway claimed the life of 47-year-old Troy Johnson. Johnson lost control of his motorcycle and collided with another rider, sending him off the road and into a guardrail. He died from his injuries, while the second motorcyclist remains in critical condition.

In Orangeburg County, a fatal crash occurred just after midnight on I-26. A car veered off the highway, overturned, and killed the driver. Investigators are looking into factors such as speed, road conditions, and possible impairment to determine the cause of the accident.

Authorities across the Midlands, including the South Carolina Highway Patrol, are investigating all five crashes. The community is left mourning the victims as officials work to uncover more details and promote road safety to prevent future tragedies.