Fatal accidents in Oconee and Anderson

The South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Oconee County Coroner’s Office are investigating a fatal motor vehicle accident that occurred over the weekend. According to Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis, 49 year old James Brian Tharp of Westminster died Saturday afternoon at the scene of the accident which occurred on Bountyland Road at the intersection of Poplar Ridge Drive. The accident was reported to the E-911 Communications Center around 12:10pm, according to Coroner Addis. According to Master Trooper David Jones with the Highway Patrol, Tharp was operating a 1996 Honda that was traveling south on Bountyland Road that went left of center and struck a 2006 Ford truck head-on. The driver and the passenger of the Ford truck were both airlifted due to injuries sustained in the accident, according to Master Trooper Jones. The South Carolina Highway Patrol is also investigating a fatal accident that occurred Sunday morning in Anderson County. According to Master Trooper David Jones, the accident occurred around 10:25am on Hickory Road near the intersection of Fire Tower Road and involved three units, a 2019 PCH Moped, a 2017 Ford Explorer and a 1990 Ford Ranger Truck. The operator of the moped was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene according to the Highway Patrol. The driver and a front seat passenger in the Explorer were transported to the hospital for treatment. The driver of the pick-up truck was also transported to the hospital for treatment of injuries as well, according to Master Deputy Jones. According to the Highway Patrol, the moped and the Explorer were traveling north on Hickory Road while the pick-up was traveling south on Hickory Road. The pick-up crossed the center line and struck the moped head-on and then struck the Explorer head-on.