Lancaster County, SC (November 18, 2025) – A Lancaster resident was killed Tuesday evening after his bicycle was struck in a multi-vehicle crash involving an SUV and a tractor-trailer.
Accident Details: The collision occurred around 6 p.m. on S.C. 522/Rocky River Road near the intersection with Firewood Road. According to preliminary information, a 2013 Peterbilt tractor-trailer was travelling north and had come to a stop due to traffic.
Travelling southbound were a 2007 Honda CR-V and a bicycle ridden by 38-year-old Daniel Parker of Lancaster. For reasons that remain under investigation, the SUV struck Parker and then continued forward, crashing into the stopped tractor-trailer.
Parker died at the scene. Neither the driver of the Honda nor the driver of the tractor-trailer was injured. Authorities did not indicate whether seatbelts were in use, and the cause of the SUV’s initial impact with the bicycle has not yet been determined.
Investigation: The South Carolina Highway Patrol, along with the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office, is working to determine what led the SUV to collide with Parker’s bicycle. Investigators will examine several aspects of the crash, including:
- Vehicle positioning. Investigators will determine where Parker was riding on the roadway and whether he was within a designated shoulder or lane at the time of impact.
- Driver actions. The SUV driver’s speed, attention, and reaction time will be reviewed to assess whether distraction, impairment, or misjudgment contributed to the collision.
- Scene evidence. Troopers will document skid marks, debris patterns, and the final resting positions of the bicycle, SUV, and tractor-trailer to reconstruct the sequence of events.
- Environmental factors. Lighting, traffic volume, and sightline distance on Rocky River Road will be considered, particularly since the collision occurred near dusk.
- Mechanical issues. The SUV will be examined to rule out brake failure, tire issues, or steering problems that could have prevented the driver from avoiding the bicycle.
- Witness accounts. Statements from nearby motorists or residents may help clarify how the bicycle and SUV approached each other in the moments leading up to the crash.
Accident reconstruction is often employed in multi-vehicle crashes to assess speed, movement, and visibility, thereby helping investigators determine whether human error, environmental conditions, or mechanical issues were the primary cause.
Legal Considerations: All road users must maintain a proper lookout, reduce their speed when necessary, and maintain a safe distance from one another. If evidence shows the SUV driver failed to do so, such conduct may be considered negligent.
In fatal collisions caused by negligence, the victim’s family may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim, which can provide compensation for funeral costs, loss of financial support, and emotional suffering.
The official findings of the Highway Patrol and Coroner’s Office will help determine how liability is assessed.
I offer my deepest condolences to Daniel Parker’s loved ones during this difficult time.
Source: Island Packet