Two boys killed, two injured in accidents on Sumter County road

SUMTER, S.C. (WIS) – Two children were struck and killed by pickup trucks Sunday morning, officials said.

One of the teenagers was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other died Tuesday morning at a local hospital.

Two pedestrians — 12-year-old Besir Wells and 15-year-old Marvin Butler — were struck by two different trucks. The 12-year-old’s aunt said the two boys were friends.

Two pedestrians — 12-year-old Besir Wells and 15-year-old Marvin Butler — were hit by two... — Two pedestrians — 12-year-old Besir Wells and 15-year-old Marvin Butler — were struck by two different trucks. The 12-year-old’s aunt said the two boys were friends.(Family of 12-year-old Besir Wells)

The South Carolina Highway Patrol said the crash happened around 6 a.m. on Britton Road near Excitement Lane in the rural part of the county north of Broadgon.

Baker said two other pedestrians who were with the boys at the time of the crash were also injured.

“Kids need to be aware of what they’re seeing on TV,” Baker said. “This is real life and everything happens and when death comes there is no going back.”

Butler, a student at Crestwood High School, was struck and killed on Britton Road by a westbound Dodge pickup truck, police said in a news release. Its the death was confirmed by the coroner’s office on Sunday.

Patrolmen said Wells was struck by a 2020 GMC Sierra traveling eastbound on Britton Road.

Wells, a student at Chestnut Oaks High School, was taken to Prisma Health Richland with injuries from the crash. He died Tuesday, the coroner’s office said.

“It was a dark road in the county,” Baker said. “It was right around the bend, 6 in the morning… dark.”

It is not known what the group of children was doing before the accident.

Police said no charges have been filed and the case remains under investigation.

The coroner’s office said an autopsy on Wells’ body will take place Friday at the University of Charleston Medical Center. An autopsy on Butler’s body is scheduled for next week.

Baker said the autopsies will provide insight into whether the children were standing, lying down or walking along the road when they were hit.

Baker said this is the fifth death of a juvenile in Sumter County since July 3 — three homicides and now two accidents. Baker urges parents in the district to be aware of where their children are and what they are doing, especially on social media.

“Be a parent, not their best friend,” Baker said. “Don’t be afraid to step on kids’ toes and tell them what they should and shouldn’t do, what they should and shouldn’t do, because if you don’t, unfortunately, bad situations will arise. and tragic situations happen.”

SCHP’s multidisciplinary fatal crash reconstruction team spent hours at the scene marking the road and will continue to investigate what happened.

Sumter School District officials said additional counseling will be available to students affected by the two deaths.

“The Sumter School District is mourning the loss of a student at Crestwood Middle School and a student at Chestnut Oaks Middle School. Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies go out to their families at this very difficult time.

“Losing a classmate can be very difficult, and the Sumter School District is very sensitive to the emotional needs of our students. The district’s crisis support team and school counselors are standing by to assist any student or staff member at Crestwood High and Chestnut Oaks Middle who may need assistance coping with this tragic loss.”

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