CLARENDON COUNTY, SC (WBTW) – A Florence County woman’s body has been recovered from Lake Marion after she was thrown into the water when she was struck by a car Sunday evening, according to South Carolina Department of Natural Resources officials.
According to Captain Robert McCullough with SCDNR, the accident happened Sunday evening around 8:30 p.m. on I-95 near the Clarendon and Orangeburg County line. A woman was thrown into the waters of Lake Marion after being struck by a car.
The victim has been identified as Michelle Hickson, 38, of Florence, according to Clarendon County Deputy Coroner Bucky Mock.
Corporal Sonny Collins with South Carolina Highway Patrol says Hickson was involved in a crash on the I-95 bridge near mile marker 100, which left her car disabled in the road. A second car passing by the crash, struck Hickson’s vehicle. Cpl. Collins says when the passing vehicle struck Hickson’s car, she ended up going over the bridge and into the water.
Troopers are still investigating exactly how Hickson was thrown over the bridge. It is not yet clear if she was directly hit by the second vehicle, or struck by her own car after it was hit.
SCDNR divers discovered Hickson’s body around 3 p.m. after beginning their search early Monday morning.
Pam Little-McDaniel, Public Information Officer for Florence School District One, confirms Hickson was a varsity volleyball coach and JV girls basketball coach at South Florence High School.
The South Florence Class of 1996 set up a memorial fund for Hickson. You may go to https://www.gofundme.com/MichelleHickson and make your donations.
South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating this fatal crash.
