July 20, 2025

Tragic Series of Fatal Crashes in Greenville County

News Summary

Greenville County witnessed multiple fatal accidents recently, raising road safety concerns. An 86-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed, while several teenagers were involved in a deadly car crash. Authorities emphasize the need for safer driving practices as the community mourns these tragedies.

Greenville County, SC – Tragedy struck Greenville County this past week with multiple fatal crashes involving pedestrians, teenagers, and motorcyclists. These incidents have raised concerns about road safety and the consequences of reckless driving.

An 86-year-old man, identified as Anthony Hinkler, was killed after being struck by a car on Roper Mountain Road early Saturday morning. Hinkler succumbed to multiple blunt force injuries at the scene, and the coroner has ruled the manner of death as accidental. Preliminary reports indicate that a Chevrolet Coupe was traveling eastbound when it collided with Hinkler, who was on foot at the time.

On July 4, another fatal crash occurred at the intersection of Old Easley Bridge Road and White Horse Road around 8:30 p.m. This collision involved a Toyota Camry carrying five individuals. Of these, 15-year-old Chasity Unique Nelson was transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital, where she unfortunately died from her injuries on July 8. The cause of her death was also attributed to blunt force trauma and deemed accidental. Four other passengers in the Camry were injured; two, identified as Quinn Hellams and Deashia Cruell, remain hospitalized, with Cruell currently in the Intensive Care Unit as confirmed by family sources.

The driver of the Jeep Cherokee that collided with the Camry, Kevin Clinton Harrison, was initially hospitalized for injuries sustained in the crash. However, he has since been booked into the Greenville County Detention Center, facing four counts of felony DUI with great bodily injury and one count of felony DUI resulting in death. Harrison is scheduled to appear in bond court Thursday afternoon. In response to the tragic incident, a vigil was held on Tuesday night to honor the lives affected by the crash.

In another unrelated incident, authorities reported the death of Kevin Leonard Schwenneker, a 34-year-old motorcyclist from Piedmont. Schwenneker was involved in a motorcycle crash on Easley Bridge Road and later succumbed to his injuries at Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital. His cause of death is listed as multiple blunt force injuries and has been classified as accidental. An examination of Schwenneker is set for July 14, and the circumstances surrounding the accident remain under investigation.

Additionally, an 18-year-old, identified as Edgar Telez Contia, passed away days after suffering severe injuries in a two-vehicle crash on Old White Horse Road that occurred around 3:25 a.m. on May 31. Contia’s cause of death was determined to be blunt force injuries to the head and chest, ruled as accidental. He had recently celebrated his 18th birthday on May 14.

The series of fatal incidents in Greenville County highlights the ongoing concern for pedestrian and driver safety on local roads. As the community mourns the loss of individuals impacted by these tragedies, authorities continue to stress the importance of safe driving practices and awareness among all road users to prevent such incidents in the future.