Teen killed in crash in Lexington that leaves others hospitalized, SC officials say

One person was killed Sunday when a motorcycle and an SUV crashed on a Lexington County road, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Hunter Avery Rabon, a 19-year-old Newberry resident, was the motorcycle rider who died, Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher said.

The two-vehicle collision happened at about 1:35 p.m. at the intersection of South Lake Drive and Paps Drive, said Master Trooper William Bennett.

Rabon was driving a 2016 Kawasaki motorcycle east on South Lake Drive, and at the intersection it collided with a westbound 2003 Chevrolet SUV, according to Bennett. The SUV was turning left onto Paps Drive when the wreck happened, Fisher said.

Rabon, who was wearing a helmet, was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead, Fisher said.

There were four people in the Chevy SUV, according to Bennett. The SUV driver and one of the passengers were hurt and taken to an area hospital, Bennett said. Fisher said the SUV driver has been released from the hospital, but further information on the passenger’s condition was not available.

No other injuries were reported.

There was no word if any of the people in the SUV were wearing seat belts.

The crash continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol and the coroner’s office.

Through Jan. 15, 26 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2024, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 999 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.

At least five people have died in Lexington County crashes in 2024, according to DPS data. There were 43 deaths reported in the county in 2023, DPS reported.