Mayor of McColl dies in accident; He was investigated by SLED and prosecuted by the deputy for his “own welfare,” officials say

DARLINGTON COUNTY, SC (WBTW) – McColl Mayor George Garner, who died in a two-vehicle crash on Tuesday, was connected to an ongoing SLED investigation, an official told News13.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division spokeswoman Renee Wunderlich said the agency’s investigation is “active and ongoing,” adding that no further information was immediately available.

Garner died in a two-vehicle crash on Cashua Ferry Road, Darlington County Coroner Todd Hardee told News13 Tuesday evening.

It happened nine miles outside Darlington around 2:40 p.m. Garner, 49, was driving westbound in a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe when he veered into the eastbound lane and collided head-on with an 18-wheeler.

Hardee said Garner was pursued by Marlboro County officials leading up to the crash.

“When the incident occurred, Mr. Garner was being pursued by a Marlboro County deputy. The persecution was not related to violations of the law. “The prosecution was made in an effort to protect the well-being of Mr. Garner,” he said in a news release Tuesday evening. “I will decide the manner of this death in the coming days. Please keep this family and the good people of our neighboring Marlboro County in your prayers.”

South Carolina Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Lena Butler said Garner died at McLeod Regional Medical Center from injuries sustained in the accident. The truck driver was also injured.

Darlington County Sheriff James Hudson Jr. said the South Carolina Highway Patrol Multidisciplinary Crash Team (MAIT Unit) is investigating.

The city of Clio expressed its condolences to McColl in a Facebook post Tuesday evening.

“The City of Clio would like to extend our prayers to the City of McColl, the Garner family and its citizens. As a neighboring city, we pray that God will provide peace and understanding in the days ahead. Small towns have big hearts and will band together in the midst of trials. “May God bless McColl,” the message reads.

Garner’s death comes at a time of controversy for the town of 2,000 that sits on the North Carolina state line.

On Thursday, McColl’s five-member police force resigned en masse. Former boss Bob Hale said in a Facebook message that a hostile work environment and inadequate funding were partly to blame for the surprise move.

“This lack of investment impacted our ability to meet the standards that the citizens of the City of McColl rightly expect and deserve,” he said in the post. “The safety of residents and the well-being of officers should have been prioritized by providing the necessary resources to build a department capable of handling the complexities of 21st century policing.” Unfortunately, this was not the case Case and I have spent the majority of my tenure as police chief clearing the names of my officers and myself from the numerous falsehoods that have been made against us.”

At 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, a message posted on McColl’s administration Facebook page said the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office was on the case around the clock and was accepting applications to fill the vacancies .

Calls to several City Council members Tuesday were not immediately returned.

This is a developing story. Count on News13 for updates.