Woman killed in Dorchester Co. crash, husband allegedly sped through construction zone

DORCHESTER COUNTY, SC (WCSC) - The Dorchester County Coroner's Office has identified the victim in a fatal accident on Dorchester Road near Old Fort Fire Department Monday.

Officials say 56-year-old Roberta Rodriguez of Summerville died while riding in a pickup truck driven by her husband, 55-year-old John Rodriguez.

Troopers say the Toyota pickup truck was traveling west on Dorchester Road at about 6:45 p.m. Assistant fire chief William Sullivan and his crew were among the first on scene, called in to help with the rescue.

"It was mangled pretty bad. It had sheared the side of the vehicle off, and when the crews got out here she was hanging halfway out. What kept her in the vehicle was her seat belt."

According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the couple was driving west on Dorchester Road when troopers say Rodriguez mounted the curb and drove down the embankment.

"They left the roadway quite some ways up, struck the second telephone pole, snapped it off in half and came down the embankment, cross the driveway, and they ended here in the front yard of the fire station," explains Sullivan.

Officials say no charges have been filed, but they say violations in construction zones carry stiffer penalties.

Troopers say the truck allegedly attempted to go around a car that was stopped for traffic. The Highway Patrol has not determined how fast Rodriguez was driving.

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