Accident Kills One Teen, Injures Another

Daniel Prince

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Dontray Austin was a student at Sims Middle School

A Sunday morning accident claimed the life of a Union County teenager and left another injured. According to Lance Cpl. Nick Pye with the SC Highway Patrol, the accident occurred Sunday morning around 7:10 a.m. on Williford Road, which is off the Santuc-Carlisle Highway. A 2010 Toyota sedan was traveling west on Williford Road, and the two victims were pedestrians walking in the opposite direction. The vehicle struck the two pedestrians, killing 14-year-old Dontray Austin of Union, and injuring the person he was walking with. The other victim was taken to the hospital with injuries. The condition of the other victim is not known. The driver and passenger of the vehicle, who were not identified by Highway Patrol, were not injured. According to the Union County Coroner’s Office, an autopsy on Austin is scheduled at Newberry Pathology Associates.

According to a Facebook post by Sims Middle School, Dontray Austin attended the school. They said they are devastated by the tragedy and will have district personnel, school counselors, faith-based counselors, and other ministries on campus today for any student or staff member needing it.

A post by the Union County School District noted that both victims attended Union County Schools and asked for prayers for the families.