Laurens, SC (August 26, 2026) – According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, a 26-year-old Columbia man died after a wrong-way crash involving two vehicles on Interstate 385 in Laurens County. The collision involved a sedan and a work van.
The sedan was traveling north in the southbound lanes when it struck the work van. The sedan driver, identified by the Laurens County Coroner’s Office as Nicholas Cannon, died at the scene. The driver of the work van was injured and taken to a hospital for treatment. The crash also blocked Interstate 385 in the area.
No additional details about the work van driver’s condition were provided. The incident remains under review by authorities. Our condolences go out to Nicholas Cannon’s family and loved ones.
Why Are Wrong-Way Highway Crashes So Dangerous?
Wrong-way crashes can create a high risk of serious injury because vehicles may approach each other at highway speeds from opposite directions. Drivers have limited time to recognize an approaching vehicle and respond.
The impact can be severe when two vehicles traveling in opposite directions collide head-on or at an offset angle. Vehicle size, speed, seatbelt use, and the location of the impact can all affect the outcome.
Wrong-way driving can occur for different reasons, including confusion about roadway directions or entering a highway through an incorrect access point. Highway signs, lane markings, and roadway lighting are designed to help drivers identify the proper direction of travel and remain in the correct lanes.
