Myka Lynn Hyde Killed in Cherokee County Pedestrian Accident
The fatal collision occurred late Friday night near Old Race Track Road
Myka Lynn Hyde, 26, was killed in a pedestrian crash on S.C. Highway 18 near Old Race Track Road in Cherokee County late Friday, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
The pedestrian was struck by a vehicle at approximately 10:30 p.m. along the rural highway corridor. Paramedics rushed Hyde to Cherokee Medical Center. She died from her injuries at 11:44 p.m., the Cherokee County Coroner’s Office reported.
Troopers and the coroner's office are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the collision.
No charges have been announced.
In pedestrian accidents such as this, safety analysts point to infrastructure and environmental factors as critical elements of the investigation.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Speeding transforms a survivable pedestrian crash into a fatal one instantly, since higher impact forces leave a human body little chance against a moving vehicle. Crosswalk timing studies and skid mark evaluations reveal whether a driver had real opportunity to stop."
"An attorney works alongside accident reconstructionists to calculate vehicle speed at impact, building a factual record insurers cannot dismiss," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
What happens next in the investigation?
Investigators will examine the vehicle's speed, the driver's visibility, and the exact point of impact on S.C. Highway 18. The coroner's office will also review autopsy results to finalize the official cause of death and provide answers to the community.
South Carolina ranked seventh nationally in pedestrian fatality rate in 2024, with 156 people killed while walking, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data.
South Carolina wrongful death statute
Under S.C. Code § 15-51-10, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. South Carolina applies modified comparative fault (51% bar). The statute of limitations is 3 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and mental shock and suffering.
"Insurance companies often push families to accept quick cash offers before total financial losses are fully known," said Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal.
Formica, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News, noted, "A legal team protects surviving relatives from signing early settlement offers that might not cover basic living expenses down the road."