CHEROKEE COUNTY, S.C. — Two people died in separate vehicle crashes Thursday evening near Gaffney, according to Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler. The deadly accidents happened within an hour of each other, leaving two families in mourning and prompting investigations into what went wrong.
The first crash occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Concord Road. According to Fowler, a pickup truck was traveling north when the driver lost control. The vehicle ran off the road, hit a ditch, and overturned. The driver was trapped inside the truck and died at the scene from his injuries. Emergency crews responded quickly, but the damage was too severe.
The driver has been identified as Kelvin Bernard Fernanders, 49, of Gaffney. Officials say Fernanders was alone in the vehicle at the time of the accident. No other vehicles were involved. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and an autopsy will be conducted to help determine what may have led to the fatal wreck.
Just 45 minutes later, another serious crash took place at the intersection of S.C. Highway 150 North and Grassy Pond Road. Fowler reported that a car was traveling east on Grassy Pond Road when it entered the path of a pickup truck going south on Highway 150. The vehicles collided, resulting in severe injuries for a passenger in the car.
The passenger, Linda Greene, 77, of Boiling Springs, North Carolina, was taken to Cherokee Medical Center in Gaffney. Sadly, she later died from her injuries. Her husband, Richard Greene, 84, was also in the car, but officials have not confirmed whether he was hurt in the crash.
Fowler confirmed that autopsies will be performed on both Fernanders and Greene to assist with the investigations. The coroner’s office, along with law enforcement agencies, continues to gather details to understand how each crash happened. It is still unclear if speed, medical issues, or other factors played a role in either incident.
These tragic events have shaken the local community and serve as a reminder of how quickly lives can change on the road. Officials urge drivers to stay alert, follow traffic laws, and take extra care when behind the wheel, especially during the summer months when roads are often busier.
