WINNSBORO (June 29, 2016) – A Columbia woman died at Richland Memorial Hospital last week, a day after the car she was driving near the Richland County line was struck head-on.
Fairfield County Coroner Barkley Ramsey said Linda Martin, 62, of Havaland Circle, Columbia, died in the hospital at 1:05 p.m. on June 22. According to the S.C. Highway Patrol, Martin was driving a 1997 Mercury sedan south on Highway 321 near Candlewood Circle at approximately 2 p.m. on June 21 when she was struck head-on by a 2004 Chevrolet SUV being driven by Linda Cochran, 50, of Winnsboro.
The Highway Patrol said Cochran was traveling north on 321 behind another, unidentified vehicle. The unidentified vehicle stopped and was waiting to turn left on Candlewood Circle. Cochran swerved to avoid rear-ending the unidentified vehicle, clipped the vehicle, then continued left of center and struck Martin head-on.
The unidentified vehicle, although not at fault, fled the scene, the Highway Patrol said. The incident remains under investigation, and the Highway Patrol is searching for the unidentified vehicle for witness purposes.
Martin was transported by helicopter to Richland Memorial. She had been wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision. Martin’s grandson, who was a passenger in the Mercury, was transported by ambulance to Richland Memorial with non-life threatening injuries, Ramsey said. Cochran was also injured in the crash, the Highway Patrol said, and was taken to Richland Memorial.