SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Three individuals died in a fiery crash after a police chase early on August 15, according to authorities.
The crash occurred at approximately 2:08 a.m. when a 2013 Ford Fusion, heading eastbound on Fosters Grove Road, veered off the roadway and struck a tree near U.S. Highway 221. Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger confirmed that the deceased include 15-year-old Luke Sherashenkov, 19-year-old Gennadii Kretov, and 17-year-old Danny Kravtsov, the latter identified as the driver.
Clevenger announced the identification of Sherashenkov using dental records on August 18, following significant fire damage that made immediate identification impossible. “More testing is being performed regarding the causes of each death,” Clevenger stated.
The incident began when two deputies noticed a suspicious vehicle at Carlisle Crossing shortly before the crash. Upon activation of their spotlight, they observed a masked individual emerge from the underbrush before returning to the fleeing vehicle. The pursuit led deputies down Old Furnace Road and Fosters Grove Road.
Authorities reported that by the time they reached the crash site, the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. The time of death was noted as 2:14 a.m. Investigators have connected the vehicle to a suspected burglary, which was flagged by an alarm from a nearby minimart prior to the chase, according to Sheriff Bill Rhyne. Further investigations are ongoing.