Authorities in South Carolina have identified the man who died in a single-vehicle crash early Monday morning in Lexington County. The Lexington County Coroner’s Office confirmed the victim as 55-year-old George Woodrow Stoudemire III.
According to officials, the fatal incident occurred near the 42-mile marker on Interstate 20 Westbound, close to the Leesville area. Investigators reported that Stoudemire was traveling west in a 2024 Ford Maverick truck when he struck a deer along the highway. The impact caused him to lose control of the vehicle, which veered off the left side of the roadway before colliding with a tree.
Emergency personnel responded to the scene shortly after the crash was reported. Despite their efforts, Stoudemire was pronounced dead at the scene due to injuries sustained in the collision. The coroner confirmed that he was the only occupant of the truck at the time of the incident.
The crash temporarily disrupted traffic along the westbound lanes of I-20 as authorities worked to investigate and clear the area. Wildlife collisions, particularly involving deer, are a known hazard across rural stretches of South Carolina’s highways—especially during early morning and evening hours when visibility is limited.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is leading the investigation with assistance from the Lexington County Coroner’s Office. Officials have not released additional details but are continuing to review evidence to determine all factors that may have contributed to the crash.
Authorities are reminding motorists to exercise caution when driving through wooded or rural areas, especially during the fall season when deer activity is heightened. Drivers are urged to remain alert, reduce speed in low-visibility conditions, and avoid swerving if a collision with an animal seems imminent, as doing so can often lead to more severe outcomes.