Tyheim D. Pickens Killed in Anderson Pedestrian Accident
A second pedestrian was injured in the Monday night collision on Pearman Dairy Road
Tyheim D. Pickens, 24, of Anderson, was killed and another person was injured in a pedestrian crash on Pearman Dairy Road near Whitehall Road in Anderson on Monday, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
An eastbound 2025 Kia sedan struck the two people as they were in the road at approximately 10:59 p.m.
The driver of the car suffered minor injuries in the collision.
One of the victims, Pickens, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Anderson County Coroner’s Office. The second pedestrian was taken to AnMed Health Medical Center for treatment of undisclosed injuries.
The coroner ruled the death accidental, citing multiple traumatic injuries.
Nighttime pedestrian collisions continue to drive state death rates, with national data showing more than 76% of such deaths occur after dark. Troopers have not released the name of the injured pedestrian or the driver.
The collision remains under investigation.
How do nighttime conditions impact pedestrian safety in Anderson County?
Nighttime visibility remains a critical factor in pedestrian collisions across South Carolina. When pedestrians are struck in the road after dark, investigators must evaluate street lighting, vehicle headlight range, and driver reaction times.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Weather conditions, driver inattention, and inadequate roadside lighting can combine in ways that turn ordinary pedestrian travel into a fatal situation, particularly along poorly designed commercial corridors."
"Understanding how those factors interacted requires specialized reconstruction work, and legal counsel experienced in pedestrian fatalities can oversee that process while shielding families from aggressive early settlement tactics," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
What are the historical collision trends for South Carolina pedestrians?
South Carolina consistently ranks among the most dangerous states for pedestrians, with a death rate of 3.48 per 100,000 residents in recent years. Between 2017 and 2021, the state recorded more than 5,400 traffic collisions involving pedestrians.
In fatal incidents, crash reconstructionists analyze vehicle speed, braking marks, and the exact point of impact to determine how the collision unfolded.
How is liability determined when pedestrians are in the road?
When a collision occurs outside of a marked crosswalk, investigators look at the driver's speed and attentiveness to determine if the crash was avoidable. While pedestrians have a duty to yield to vehicles when outside crosswalks, drivers also maintain a legal obligation to exercise due care to avoid striking anyone in the road.
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.
"The financial consequences of a fatal pedestrian crash can be severe and lasting, and surviving families are rarely prepared for what follows. Lost income, funeral costs, and ongoing suffering all factor into the accounting of what a family has endured," a national legal analyst for Accident News and of counsel at Bond Legal.
"Serving as an advocate, an attorney ensures those losses are documented and that insurance carriers cannot minimize a claim prematurely."