North Charleston Man Charged After Deadly I-26 Hit-and-Run Crash in Laurens County

LAURENS COUNTY, S.C. — A North Charleston man is facing multiple charges, including leaving the scene of a collision involving death, after a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 26 earlier this month left one driver dead.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol identified the suspect as Bishawn Bell, 34, of North Charleston. Troopers said Bell fled the scene of the April 11 crash on I-26 in Laurens County before being located and arrested.

When and Where the I-26 Crash Happened

According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the crash occurred on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at approximately 9:40 p.m. on Interstate 26 near mile marker 53 in Laurens County.

The stretch of I-26 near mile marker 53 sits between Clinton and Newberry, a rural corridor frequently traveled by drivers connecting the Upstate to the Midlands and the Lowcountry, including traffic moving to and from the Charleston area.

How the Laurens County Crash Unfolded

Investigators with the South Carolina Highway Patrol said a sedan traveling in the eastbound lanes of I-26 struck a pickup truck. The force of the collision caused the pickup truck to cross the median, overturn, and then strike two vehicles traveling westbound.

In total, four vehicles were involved in the chain of collisions:

• One eastbound sedan (the alleged striking vehicle)
• One eastbound pickup truck (driven across the median)
• Two westbound vehicles struck by the overturning pickup

Victim Flown to Hospital, Later Died

Troopers said one of the drivers of the westbound vehicles was critically injured and transported by medical helicopterto a hospital. That driver died several days after the crash from injuries sustained in the collision.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol has not yet released the name of the deceased driver. The Laurens County Coroner’s Office is expected to release additional identification and cause-of-death information in the coming days.

The driver of the pickup truck was also seriously injured and flown to a hospital. Troopers have not released an updated condition on that driver.

Suspect Fled, Later Arrested

Authorities said the driver of the sedan — identified as Bishawn Bell — left the scene of the crash before law enforcement arrived. Bell was later located and taken into custody and is currently being held at the Laurens County Detention Center.

y crash I-26 fatal crash Laurens County hit and run I-26 South Carolina Laurens County I-2Troopers said Bell is facing multiple charges, including:

• Leaving the scene of a collision involving death (felony under South Carolina law)
• Additional charges pending further investigation

Under South Carolina Code § 56-5-1210, leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death is a felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison, along with mandatory driver’s license revocation.

I-26 Crash Investigation Continues

The South Carolina Highway Patrol’s Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) is continuing to investigate the cause of the April 11 crash, including whether impairment, speed, or distracted driving may have been contributing factors.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the South Carolina Highway Patrol at (800) 768-1503.

I-26 Safety in South Carolina

Interstate 26 is one of the most heavily traveled and highest-fatality corridors in South Carolina, particularly along the stretches that connect Charleston to Columbia and the Upstate. Multi-vehicle crashes along rural segments of I-26 — including the Laurens County corridor — are frequently complicated by high speeds, limited lighting, and median crossover collisions.

This is a developing story. Charleston Crash News will update this article as additional information becomes available from the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Laurens County Coroner’s Office.