Fallen bucket believed linked to fatal wreck
Charleston, SC The Post and Courier, Tuesday, July 27, 1999

A bucket that fell from a pickup truck is believed to have caused a four-car accident on Interstate 26 that killed a 18 year-old Greenville woman and injured three people, the SC Highway patrol said Monday.

Amanda Williams of Greenville was killed when the Honda Civic she was riding in was cut in half during a 5:50pm collision in the southbound lane near St. Matthews, said Highway patrol spokesman Sgt. Nick Wallen.

Andrew Boyce, 20 of Greenville, the driver of the Honda, was in serious condition Monday at Richland Memorial Hospital, a hospital spokesman said.

The Honda collided with a Dodge van driven by Deborah Flagler, 48, of Charleston, who was listed in critical condition at Richland Memorial Hospital.

Charleston resident Patricia Worthy, 52, a passenger in the van, was in fair condition at the Medical University of South Carolina, a hospital spokesman said.

Wallen said Boyce was driving behind a pickup truck when a bucket fell from the vehicle and Boyce swerved an lost control and traveled from the westbound lance into oncoming traffic in the eastbound lane.

The van driven by Flagler hit the Honda at the center post, cutting it in two.

A third car, the trooper said, struck the front half of the car and a fourth vehicle hit the rear section.

Passengers in the other cars were not injured.

Wallen said the patrol is attempting to locate the driver of the pickup because the bucket that fell is believed to have contributed to the accident.

Traffic was delayed for 2 1/2 hours, he said.