Coroner identifies man, woman killed in West Ashley crash involving motorcycles, car

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The Charleston County Coroner’s Office has identified the victims of a three-vehicle crash Sunday night in West Ashley.

Chad Belue, 50, from Johns Island; and Lea Cook, 49, from Walterboro, died Sunday at approximately 6:40 p.m. at the scene of the crash, Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal said.

The crash involved two motorcycles and a sedan on Magwood Drive between Ashley Crossing Drive and Charlie Hall Boulevard, Charleston Police Sgt. Elisabeth Wolfsen said.

Belue was driving one of the motorcycles and Cook was a passenger, O’Neal said.

Police said the driver of the other motorcycle and the driver of the car were taken to an area hospital for treatment, she said.

The driver of the sedan sustained critical injuries in the collision and is receiving medical treatment at an area hospital, while the driver of the second motorcycle suffered minor injuries, according to police.

According to a report released on Monday, the incident involved a Nissan Sentra sedan which was traveling south on Magwood Drive while two motorcycles were traveling north on Magwood Drive.

Police say the Nissan veered across the center line, colliding head on with the lead motorcycle and killing both the male driver and female passenger.

The car then struck the second motorcycle, causing minor injuries to the lone operator, CPD officials said.

“CPD Officers and MAIT closed a portion of Magwood Drive for several hours as they collected evidence and processed the scene,” authorities said. “Magwood Drive was reopened around 12:00a.m.”

As of yet, no charges have been filed, and the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with any information that may be pertinent to the investigation is asked to contact the Charleston Police Department Traffic Division at (843) 965-4084.

“This fatal collision is the twenty-first (21st) investigated by the Charleston Police Department in 2021, and marks the total number of traffic-related deaths in the City of Charleston at twenty-two (22) for the year,” CPD officials said.

Copyright 2021 WCSC. All rights reserved.