SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. — On Sunday evening, 31-year-old Damien Waiters of Richland County lost his life in a tragic single-vehicle accident near the intersection of Highway 261 North and Richbow Road. The crash, which has left a close-knit community reeling, occurred at about 8:30 p.m., according to Sumter County Coroner Robbie Baker.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene to find Waiters’ car heavily damaged, having apparently left the roadway. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
Officials have confirmed that no other vehicles were involved, and at this time no witnesses are known. The coroner’s office is working in collaboration with the South Carolina Highway Patrol to unravel exactly what happened.
Crucial questions remain unanswered: Was excessive speed, impairment, or road conditions a factor? Did any mechanical failure or distraction cause the car to veer off? Troopers plan to analyze physical evidence, vehicle data, and reconstruct the crash scene to gain clarity.
In a related note, the Coroner’s Office also identified another victim from a different crash over the weekend: 49-year-old Felicia Williams Sims, who died when the vehicle she was riding in was involved in a separate single‐vehicle collision on I-95 North.
Waiters’ family and friends are left with heartbreak and many questions. He was a young man with his life ahead of him — now they’re left watching and waiting for answers as law enforcement carries out a full investigation.
Authorities are urging drivers everywhere to use extra caution at night, to watch speed and road conditions, and to stay alert — especially when visibility is low and hazards are harder to detect. As troopers sift through the evidence and piece together the final moments, the community mourns a life cut far too short.