Hailee Shackelfurd Killed in Beaufort Car Accident
Fatal collision on Brickyard Point Road marks latest Beaufort County traffic fatality
Hailee Shackelfurd, 31, of Beaufort, died Monday, March 16, in a single-vehicle crash on Brickyard Point Road near Fiddler Drive, according to the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office.
A 2004 Toyota pickup truck was driving north when the driver lost control, police said. The truck swerved off the right side of the road and hit a tree.
Emergency services arrived at the scene around 12:45 a.m. and found two people in the truck. Shackelfurd, a passenger, died at the scene, authorities said.
Paramedics took the driver to a regional hospital for treatment. The extent of the driver's injuries was not released.
The coroner said Shackelfurd died from multiple blunt force trauma.
The crash remains under investigation.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, according to Cpl. Nick Pye. Troopers are still investigating the crash.
National Legal Analyst Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal, noted that "I've seen families blindsided by how quickly a simple commute turns into a heartbeat of loss. It's devastating that left-turn crashes account for over twenty percent of all fatal intersection accidents."
South Carolina wrongful death statute
Under the South Carolina Wrongful Death Act (S.C. Code § 15-51-10 to 15-51-60), the personal representative of a deceased individual may bring a legal action if the death was caused by the wrongful act, neglect, or default of another. South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule, meaning that if a victim is found to be 50 percent or less at fault for an accident, their family may still pursue a percentage of damages, though the recovery is reduced by the victim's degree of fault.
Families may be eligible to recover damages for funeral and burial expenses, medical bills incurred prior to death, and the loss of financial support and companionship. South Carolina law generally requires these claims to be filed within three years of the date of death, making timely preservation of evidence such as vehicle data and witness statements critical for a successful filing. The state also allows for survival actions, which recover damages for the conscious pain and suffering the victim experienced between the moment of impact and their passing.