McCormick County, SC — April 3, 2024, Marvin Kent was killed in a truck accident at about 6 a.m. on State Highway 28.
Authorities said a northbound 1997 Honda sedan collided with a southbound semi-truck near the Abbeville County line.
Honda driver Marvin Garrett Kent, 47, of Augusta was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.
No other injuries were reported.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the McCormick County crash. The accident is still being investigated.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a passenger vehicle and a semi-truck collide head-on on a rural highway like State Highway 28, the first question that needs to be answered is simple: How did these two vehicles end up in each other’s path? According to reports, a northbound Honda collided with a southbound semi-truck around 6 a.m., a time when visibility can be limited and road conditions can still be transitioning from night to day.
In crashes like this, people often assume that the smaller vehicle must have drifted or crossed the center line, but in my experience, that’s not always the case. It’s just as possible the commercial vehicle veered off course or was in the process of making a wide turn or maneuver that encroached into the opposing lane. That’s why early assumptions can be misleading, and why a proper investigation has to be based on physical evidence and not speculation.
One of the first things investigators should look at is the roadway itself. Was it curved, narrow or uneven? Were there any obstructions, such as brush or elevation changes, that could have made it difficult for either driver to maintain proper lane discipline? These factors can influence whether a crash was truly unavoidable, or the result of poor planning or inattention.
In addition to the physical layout, it’s also critical to examine black box data from the semi-truck. That information can show whether the truck was speeding, braking or swerving in the moments leading up to the crash. Likewise, investigators should be reviewing the truck driver’s logbooks and hours-of-service records. If fatigue or distraction played a role, that may point to a deeper issue, one involving the decisions of the trucking company, not just the driver.
Even when a passenger vehicle does veer out of its lane, the law still expects commercial drivers to be prepared for sudden hazards. Whether there was any opportunity to brake, steer away or otherwise minimize the impact is something only a full investigation can reveal.
At the end of the day, a man lost his life in a violent collision with a commercial truck. That fact alone means the investigation must go far beyond basic assumptions. The goal isn’t just to document the scene. It’s to understand what decisions, by either party or those behind them, contributed to a crash that didn’t have to happen.
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