Two died in Charleston, SC crash involving motorcycles: Cops

A man and woman riding a motorcycle were killed in a Sunday night crash that left another motorcycle rider and a car driver in a South Carolina hospital, the Charleston Police Department said.

At about 6:20 p.m., officers responded to the three-vehicle collision that involved two motorcycles and a sedan, according to police.

The wreck happened on Magwood Drive, between Charlie Hall Boulevard and Ashley Crossing Drive, police said. That’s near the junction of Ashley River Road and Interstate 526.

The man and woman died at the scene, according to police.

The Charleston County Coroner’s Office identified Lowcountry residents Chad Belue, 50, and Lea Cook, 49, as the crash victims who died, WCSC reported. The coroner’s office said Belue was driving the motorcycle, and Cook was a passenger, according to WCBD.

A Nissan Sentra was driving south on Magwood Drive while two motorcycles were heading in the opposite direction when the Sentra veered across the center line, colliding head on with the lead motorcycle and killing both riders, police said.

The car then struck the second motorcycle, causing minor injuries to the lone rider, according to police.

The woman driving the Sentra suffered critical injuries in the collision, and is still receiving medical treatment at an area hospital, police said. Further information on the conditions of the survivors was not available.

No other injuries were reported.

There was no word if any of the motorcycle riders wore helmets, or if the car driver wore a seat belt.

The road was closed for about four hours following the crash, according to police.

Currently no charges have been filed, but the crash is under investigation by police.

Anyone with information about the collision is asked to call police at 843-965-4084, or Lowcountry Crime Stoppers at 843-554-1111.

Through Friday afternoon, 148 motorcycle riders were among the 1,068 people who had died on South Carolina roads in 2021, state Department of Public Safety data shows. That’s ahead of the 114 motorcycle riders who were killed in crashes at the same point last year.

At least 70 people have been killed in Charleston County crashes in 2021, and 11 involved a motorcycle, according to DPS.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

This story was originally published December 27, 2021 12:12 PM.