Horry County authorities reported that a motorcyclist died in a multiple motorcycle/vehicle crash on US 17 near SC 22 on Friday night.

The crash, which happened just before 9 pm, closed southbound lanes on Highway 17 near SC-22, in front of Myrtle Beach Mall.

Horry County Deputy Coroner Michelle McSpadden said that Thomas Martin Jr., age 52, died as a result of the crash, the second deadly crash of the day on Friday involving a motorcyclist.

Martin Jr. was from Henderson, NC and was traveling on a motorcycle when the crash happened, McSpadden told WBTW.

A crash earlier Friday took the life of a Georgia motorcyclist in a crash on US 17 near Barefoot Landing.
After the Friday night crash, traffic was backed up in both directions and motorists were encouraged to avoid the area and use SC 31 as an alternate route.

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