Man charged after vehicles collide on I-77 in Chester County, killing 7-year-old, injuring 3 others

CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WBTV) - A 7-year-old boy was killed and members of his family were injured in a crash on Interstate 77 in Chester County on Sunday evening.

According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the incident happened at approximately 5:22 p.m. Sunday when a Chevrolet van and a Ford SUV collided while both were traveling north on I-77 near mile marker 67.

After colliding, both vehicles left the roadway. The van went off the left side of the road, striking a guard rail. The SUV went off the right side of the road and struck a tree.

The driver of the van, identified as 35-year-old Jason Connell Palmer, was transported to a local hospital with injuries.

The driver of the SUV and his wife were transported to Piedmont Medical Center with injuries. The woman has since been released.

Their 7-year-old son was a passenger in the backseat and died. His four-year-old brother was also in the backseat and transported to the hospital but is expected to be okay.

“No family should ever walk down that long hospital corridor to find a coroner saying your 7-year-old is gone,” said their grandma. “We’ll never be the same.”

The parents had just picked up their boys after having a weekend away together. They hadn’t been on the interstate more than a few minutes when the alleged drunk driver hit them.

Authorities said Palmer is charged with felony DUI and was booked at the Chester County Detention Center.

Related: Troopers: 2 dead in Chester Co., S.C. wreck

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