COLUMBIA, S.C. — One person is dead after Columbia Police say an attempt to flee a traffic stop Sunday morning ended in a deadly crash on Rosewood Drive.
The victim has been identified by the Richland County Coroner's Office as Anthony L. Harris, 46, of Columbia. Harris was transported by Richland County EMS to Prisma Health Richland Hospital, where he died at 7:35 a.m
A section of the road was closed for hours as investigators responded to the scene.
Carolyn Hargrove said she was in a nearby apartment when she witnessed the incident take place.
"I saw the chase; I saw five police cars," Hargrove said. "I stood in my window and I counted five police cars before I could get out the front door.... By the time I got out the front door, the car was on fire and I saw maybe 20 police cars."
Officials with S.C. Highway Patrol say the accident happened around 7:30 a.m. Sunday morning when Harris, who was driving a 1999 Ford Crown Victoria, lost control of the car on Superior Street near Rosewood Drive.
Cpl. Sonny Collins with S.C. Highway Patrol says Harris was traveling west on Superior Street when he struck a small curb in the median on the road, lost control, struck a retaining wall and overturned and was ejected from the car.
Investigators have not commented on whether or not a police chase took place, or if the car was on fire, but tell News 19 Harris was driving "erratically" when they attempted to pull him over.
Columbia Police officers later "lost sight" of the car before discovering that the driver wrecked at Rosewood Drive and Superior Street. They then rendered aid to the man until EMS arrived on scene.
"I pray for his family and for them to get an understanding," Hargrove said. "It only took a split second for that young man to not be here today.... We all have a time clock; we don't know the minute, the day or the hour."
An autopsy is scheduled for Monday, according to Richland County coroner Gary Watts, who says the cause of death will be released after the autopsy is completed.
S.C. Highway Patrol has been requested by the Columbia Police Department to conduct the investigation.