South Carolina Mayor Dies in Car Crash While Being Pursued by Law Enforcement
McColl, South Carolina, Mayor George Garner II, 49, died in a head-on collision with a truck on Tuesday, just days after the town’s entire police department resigned. The incident occurred while Garner was being pursued by a Marlboro County Deputy, but the pursuit was not related to any laws being broken, according to a statement from the Darlington County Coroner.
The fatal crash occurred in Mechanicsville, and the coroner, Todd Hardee, confirmed that Garner was the driver of the vehicle. The town of McColl, which has a population of about 2,000, has been dealing with the aftermath of the police department’s mass resignation, which was announced just last week.
The police department’s resignation was attributed to repeated acts of harassment, personal attacks, and a hostile work environment, according to a statement from Chief of Police Bob Hale. Hale alleged that a specific councilman was behind the harassment and hostility, which made it impossible for the department to function effectively.
The town has since announced that the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Department will be providing law enforcement services to the community. In a statement, the Marlboro County Emergency Management/911 described Garner as a “truly remarkable individual” who “consistently treated everyone with warmth and respect, and his kindness left a lasting impact on those around him.”