PICKENS COUNTY, SC — One driver was killed and another was flown to the hospital after a head-on collision in Pickens County, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Troopers said the crash happened shortly before 8:50 a.m. Friday on Highway 183 at Alex Drive.
Investigators said a car traveling south and a van heading north collided after the car crossed the centerline. The driver of the car, identified by the Pickens County Coroner’s Office as 64-year-old Barbara Dean Walls, died at the scene. The van driver was taken by helicopter to Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Coroner identifies the driver killed in the crash
The Pickens County Coroner’s Office identified the driver who died as Barbara Dean Walls, 64, of Pickens County. The office said her death was caused by multiple blunt force injuries and ruled the manner of death an accident.
No additional information about Walls was released, and authorities have not said whether any other passengers were involved. The crash happened during the morning commute window on a highway that connects local traffic through the area.
Troopers say the car crossed the centerline before impact
According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the southbound car moved into the path of the northbound van. Troopers said the car crossed the centerline and struck the van head-on, leaving both vehicles damaged in the collision.
The exact reason the car crossed the centerline has not been released. Officials have not said whether speed, distraction, weather, or a medical issue played any role.
Van driver flown to Greenville Memorial Hospital after emergency response
The driver of the van survived the crash but was airlifted to Greenville Memorial Hospital for treatment. Authorities did not immediately release the person’s identity or condition.
Because the collision happened on a busy state highway, the response included both crash investigators and medical transport. The emergency transport underscored the severity of the impact, which left one vehicle operator dead at the scene and another needing hospital care.
Pickens County and state investigators are still examining the collision
The crash remains under investigation by the Pickens County Coroner’s Office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Officials said no further details are available at this time.
That means investigators have not yet publicly released a full timeline, witness information, or any possible contributing factors. For now, the known facts are limited to the time, location, vehicle directions, and the fatal outcome confirmed by county and state authorities.
Highway 183 crash adds to calls for caution on two-lane roads
Head-on crashes are among the most dangerous roadway collisions because they combine the force of two vehicles moving toward each other. In this case, troopers said the impact occurred after one vehicle moved across the centerline on Highway 183.
The crash serves as a reminder of how quickly routine travel can turn deadly on roadways where traffic in opposite directions shares limited space. Officials have not announced any lane closures, enforcement changes, or other follow-up actions tied to the collision.
From the Twin Cities to the border and back, Travel Your Way keeps Minnesota informed.