Motorcyclist killed, 7 injured after U-Haul truck causes crash on Meeting Street while fleeing police

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — A motorcyclist was killed, and seven people were left injured after a U-Haul truck attempting to evade law enforcement Saturday evening caused a crash on a downtown Charleston street.

Shortly before 5 p.m. on Saturday, officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a U-Haul truck at the intersection of Dorchester and Meeting Street Roads, according to the North Charleston Police Department.

The truck refused to stop and traveled from Dorchester Road to Interstate 26 before entering downtown Charleston via the Crosstown.

The U-Haul’s driver then turned left, moving towards King Street. Police discontinued the chase at the intersection of Columbus and King Street, but the driver kept going.

At 4:55 p.m., the U-Haul hit two pedestrians while traveling north in the southbound lanes of Meeting Street at Reid Street, the South Carolina Highway Patrol said.

The U-Haul then swerved into the second northbound lane, where it hit a 2022 Mercedes sedan. In turn, that Mercedes collided with a Honda motorcycle, which then crashed into a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe.

The two pedestrians were injured and taken to local hospitals. There were two passengers on the motorcycle, one of which died, and the other was taken to the hospital for their injuries. All three occupants of the Mercedes were taken to the hospital.

The female driver and male passenger of the U-Haul truck were taken into custody. Both individuals claimed to be sovereign citizens or believe they are not subject to the law.

One of the U-Haul passengers was injured also, highway patrol explained.

The Charleston County Coroner’s Office has not yet identified the deceased. The South Carolina Highway Patrol is the lead investigative agency.