Highway investigators in South Carolina are piecing together what went wrong on Interstate 95 after a violent midday wreck claimed the lives of three Florida residents and sent three others to emergency care.
The collision unfolded on Friday at roughly 1:09 p.m. near mile marker 83 in Dorchester County. A 2020 Honda SUV traveling north collided directly with a heavy tractor-trailer moving along the same corridor.
South Carolina Highway Patrol officers arrived to find major damage near the northbound lanes. Three passengers inside the Honda SUV died from their injuries right at the scene, according to official county reports.
Officials identified the deceased as Valeriy Yekamassov, 44, of Port Charlotte, Florida, along with Rufina Tolmachova, 37, and Davyd Tolmachov, 15, both residents of North Port, Florida.
Emergency medical teams transported the driver of the Honda SUV and two surviving passengers to a nearby hospital for immediate treatment. The driver of the tractor-trailer involved in the collision was evaluated and reported no injuries.
The stretch of I-95 near mile marker 83 in Dorchester County saw traffic slow down for hours while reconstruction teams examined skid marks, vehicle positioning, and roadway conditions. Investigators have not yet released a final determination on what caused the Honda SUV to strike the commercial tractor-trailer.
As state troopers continue their technical review, the focus shifts to the surviving driver and passengers currently in hospital care. Their recovery remains a primary concern for local rescue workers who responded to the initial dispatch call.
The fatal crash stands as a stark reminder of how quickly conditions change on major interstate routes. Investigators say their inquiry into the Dorchester County collision remains active as they work to provide definitive answers for the grieving families in Port Charlotte and North Port.
INCIDENT DETAILS
Names of Victims & People Involved:
– Valeriy Yekamassov, 44, Port Charlotte, Florida (Deceased passenger)
– Davyd Tolmachov, 15, North Port, Florida (Deceased passenger)
– Rufina Tolmachova, 37, North Port, Florida (Deceased passenger)
– Unidentified SUV Driver (Injured, hospitalized)
– Two Unidentified SUV Passengers (Injured, hospitalized)
– Unidentified Tractor-Trailer Driver (Uninjured)
Location of Incident:
– Near Mile Marker 83, Northbound Interstate 95, Dorchester County, South Carolina
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