Firefighter Killed in 3-Car Crash

CHESTER (June 2, 2016) – A Blackstock man was killed last week near the 1700 block of Highway 97 in Chester in a three-vehicle pile-up that blocked the road for hours.

Chester County Coroner Terry Tinker said Adam Ryan Swygart, 22, was pronounced dead at the scene after the 4:39 p.m. accident on May 26. Swygart was a member of the South Chester, Chester and Blackstock fire departments, as well as the Chester Rescue Squad, Tinker said, and had just recently finished college.

According to the S.C. Highway Patrol, Swygart was driving a 2006 Toyota pickup truck, following a 2006 Chevrolet van being driven by a 62-year-old Lugoff man, south on Highway 97. A 2012 Dodge pickup truck traveling north on Highway 97 and being driven by a 40-year-old Chester man veered left of center, sideswiped the Chevrolet van and struck Swygart’s Toyota head-on.

Swygart was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, the Highway Patrol said.

The driver of the Chevrolet van was wearing a seatbelt, the Highway Patrol said, and was injured and transported by EMS to Chester Regional Hospital. The driver of the Dodge pickup was also wearing a seatbelt, the Highway Patrol said, and was not injured.

At press time, the Highway Patrol said it was not known why the Dodge pickup crossed into southbound traffic. The accident remains under investigation.

 

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