Larry Callahan Killed in Hit-and-Run on Colbert Bridge Road in Windsor, SC
The 79-year-old was riding a moped on Colbert Bridge Road when he was struck from behind by a fleeing vehicle.
Larry Callahan, 79, of Windsor, was killed in a hit-and-run accident on Colbert Bridge Road in Aiken County, South Carolina, on Tuesday, April 14, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Investigators are searching for an unknown driver who fled the scene after striking the back of an eastbound moped. The collision occurred around 9:30 p.m.
Callahan suffered blunt force injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:17 p.m.
The Aiken County Coroner’s Office scheduled an autopsy to be performed later this week in Newberry. Troopers have not released a description of the suspect vehicle.
The crash remains under investigation.
While authorities search for the suspect vehicle, investigators will analyze debris left at the scene to identify the make and model of the fleeing car. National Legal Analyst Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal, noted that "Hit-and-run accidents often involve drivers who panic due to lack of insurance, outstanding warrants, or impairment, leaving victims and their families without immediate answers."
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, more than one hit-and-run crash occurs every minute on U.S. roads, resulting in thousands of deaths annually.
Finding a fleeing driver requires swift action before evidence is destroyed or vehicles are repaired. National Legal Analyst Stefano Formica, Of Bond Legal, noted that "In fatal hit-and-run accidents, independent investigators frequently use nearby surveillance footage, paint transfer analysis, and local body shop inquiries to track down the responsible party."
Families of victims like Callahan are often left dealing with a complex legal and emotional aftermath while police work to locate the suspect.
Under South Carolina's wrongful death statute (S.C. Code § 15-51-10), surviving family members may pursue a civil claim when a loved one is killed due to the wrongful act or negligence of another. In cases where the at-fault driver is not immediately identified, families may still have avenues for recovery through the victim's own uninsured motorist coverage. National Legal Analyst Bond of Bond Legal noted that "Wrongful death claims in hit-and-run cases require a thorough review of all available insurance policies to ensure the family is protected even if the fleeing driver remains at large."
These claims can provide compensation for funeral expenses, medical bills incurred prior to death, and loss of companionship. South Carolina law generally requires wrongful death actions to be filed within three years of the date of death.