The 29-year-old was a school teacher and the baseball coach at Legion Collegiate Academy
KERSHAW, SC, (August 10, 2024) - A 29-year-old Rock Hill teacher was killed following a multi-vehicle collision in Kershaw County late Saturday morning, according to the Coroner's Office.
Jalen Benjamin, a 29-year-old Rock Hill resident, was fatally injured in a three-vehicle crash in Kershaw County late Saturday morning, according to the Coroner's Office.
The incident happened along Interstate 20 East, near the 93-mile marker.
Citing preliminary reports, officials said a 2011 Buick sedan, a 2006 Ford pickup truck, and a 2024 Freightliner tractor-trailer truck were traveling east on the interstate around 11:43 a.m. when the first two vehicles stopped for traffic. The semi-truck driver reportedly failed to stop and crashed into the back of the pickup truck, causing it to collide with the sedan.
As a result, the car and the pickup truck ran off the right side of the road.
Jalen Benjamin, the pickup truck driver, died at the scene due to injuries. Benjamin was a school teacher and the baseball coach at Legion Collegiate Academy.
The Highway Patrol and Coroner's Office are investigating.
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), driver-related factors were recorded in 2,554 of the 7,368 (34.7 percent) fatal semi-truck crashes during a recent two-year period.
Candice Bond, an experienced semi-truck crash attorney, noted that investigations into semi-truck crashes require various resources.
Representing a grieving client’s family, an attorney can investigate the accident scene, closely examine the rig, the truckers, and the trucking company’s logbooks and other records to preserve evidence.
“Tractor-trailer crashes are often complex, and many factors can play a role in these types of accidents,” said Bond, Managing Partner of Bond Legal.
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the investigation, the family members of Jalen Benjamin may be entitled to a wrongful death claim. Family members of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a catastrophic accident.
“The stress and sorrow can be extremely overwhelming after losing a loved one in an accident,” said Stefano Formica, Of Counsel with Bond Legal.
“A wrongful death lawyer will stay updated on the official investigation and help ensure that the victim's legal rights and best interests are protected.”
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(Candice Bond, Managing Partner, and Stefano Formica, Of Counsel, at Bond Legal, are the national legal analysts for Newsline. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).