Fiery Crash on S.C. Highway 22 Kills Two, Injures Others
CONWAY — A crash on S.C. Highway 22 near the S.C. Highway 905 intersection claimed the lives of two people shortly before 4:30 p.m. on August 20. A dump truck traveling at 65 mph plowed into stopped traffic, resulting in significant chaos.
According to the S.C. Highway Patrol, Jimmy Roberts, the dump truck driver from the Conway area, has been cited for driving too fast for conditions and a seatbelt violation. The truck struck a Chevrolet SUV, subsequently colliding with a Jeep and a GMC pickup.
Earl Burnette, 49, and Flora Beltran-Gomez, 35, both from the Loris area, died in the accident. The Horry County Coroner's Office confirmed that Burnette's vehicle was pushed over a concrete bridge railing into the Waccamaw River, while Beltran-Gomez's SUV caught fire.
Roberts was unharmed in the incident, while the driver of the GMC pickup was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The crash remains under investigation by the Highway Patrol.
Authorities emphasize that state law prohibits exceeding safe speeds for current road conditions, which can be affected by traffic and other factors.
Roberts has a limited history of traffic violations over the past decade, with few citations on record.