GALIVANTS FERRY, S.C. — A Richmond County resident, with a home in South Carolina, was killed this week after being struck by a truck that ran off the road.
According to various news reports — from WBTV, WMBF and the Sun News of Myrtle Beach —citing the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the driver of a 2013 GMC pickup truck ran off of Pee Dee Highway in Galivants Ferry around 6:50 p.m. Wednesday evening, driving through a fence and hitting 68-year-old Ronald “R.J.” Hewitt.
Hewitt, who was reportedly working in his yard at the time, died from his injuries at the scene.
The driver of the truck, who was not named in the initial stories, was reportedly taken to a hospital for his injuries.
As of Thursday, the wreck was still under investigation.
News reports list Hewitt as being from Horry County but a friend of the family says he had a place there as well as Richmond County.
Hewitt, who also lived in Ellerbe, was a six-year Navy veteran and served as a machinist mate on a small destroyer during the Vietnam war. In 2020, he was honored with a quilt of valor.
A Go Fund Me has been set up to raise money to cover funeral expenses. As of 6:35 p.m. Friday, the fundraiser had generated $3,190 of the $8,000 goal.
