South Carolina woman killed in head-on collision between SUVs, officials say

According to the Berkeley County Coroner’s Office, a South Carolina woman died in a traffic accident in the early hours of Sunday.

Kelli Johnson, a 30-year-old Bonneau resident, died in what coroner Darnell Hartwell called an accident.

The two-vehicle collision occurred around 1:55 a.m. on U.S. 52 North, said Master Trooper Gary Miller of the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Johnson was driving a 2020 Hyundai SUV east on U.S. 52, according to Miller. Near the intersection with Caprine Lane, a 2014 Dodge SUV traveling west on U.S. 52 crossed the center line and entered the eastbound lanes, colliding head-on with the Hyundai, Miller said.

According to Hartwell, Johnson died at the scene of the accident.

Miller said neither a passenger in the Hyundai nor the Dodge driver were injured, and no other injuries were reported.

It was not disclosed whether those involved in the accident were wearing seat belts.

Information on what caused the Dodge to cross into oncoming traffic was not available, but the crash remains under investigation by the Highway Patrol and the coroner’s office.

As of May 22, at least 357 people will die on South Carolina roads in 2024, according to the Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,030 people died in crashes in South Carolina, according to DPS.

According to DPS data, at least 11 people died in accidents in Berkeley County in 2024. In 2023, 60 deaths were reported in the county, DPS said.