LANCASTER --
Cars drove slowly on West Shiloh Unity Road on Wednesday afternoon to see the demolished wall of an office building, where a Chevy Cobalt flew through the air and crashed into it the night before, killing a 15-year-old passenger.
Inside that Chevy Colbalt sat four Lancaster teens. One, Elyse Hardin, died after being thrown from the car. The other three were injured.
The one-car crash happened about a mile and half from U.S. 521 on West Shiloh Unity Road around 10 p.m. Tuesday, said Lance Cpl. Josef Robinson of the S.C. Highway Patrol.
The car drove off the left side of the road, hit a utility pole, overturned several times and then struck the building, Robinson said. The car landed right-side up inside the office area of R.R. Equipment Co.
“I've never seen a telephone pole split like that,” said Bob Rossi, owner of R.R. Equipment. The building that was hit is a secondary building for the company that manufactures recycling machines. “When I got here I saw the telephone pole dangling from the wires.”
Hardin was in the back seat and not wearing a seat belt, Robinson said. She was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries sustained in the collision, Lancaster County Deputy Coroner Glen Crawford said.
The driver, Devin Rogers, 16, and a 14-year-old passenger were airlifted Carolinas Medical Center. Rogers was listed in
good condition Thursday, a hospital spokeswoman said. His passenger was in fair condition.
Officials didn't know if the driver was wearing his seat belt, but Robinson said the front-seat passenger was wearing one at the time of the crash.
The other backseat passenger, a 15-year-old girl, was treated and released from Springs Memorial Hospital in Lancaster. She was wearing a seat-belt.
Alcohol is not thought to be a factor in the crash, Robinson said. Speed might have contributed to the wreck, but patrol officials won't know that until the crash reconstruction investigation is complete. The speed limit in that area is 45 mph.
“Speed is one factor we're definitely looking into,” Cpl. Bryan McDougald said. “That's not the only factor we're looking at.”
No charges had been filed as of Wednesday evening. Whether charges are appropriate is determined after the crash investigation, McDougald said.
From the crash scene Rossi saw Tuesday night, he said it didn't appear the car was slowing down.
“The car was in the middle of the office when we got here,” he said. “It was completely destroyed. I feel for the family right now. This is tragic.”
Hardin was the daughter of Chuck Hardin and Susan Rutledge Hardin and a member of Amitie Cotillion and Grace United Methodist Church, according to her obituary.
Wednesday afternoon, dozens of family and friends gathered at the Hardin home. The family did not speak with the media.
Hardin, a sophomore at Lancaster High School, was liked by many, said David Knight, public information officer for Lancaster County schools.
“The school district and school are saddened by her death,” Knight said. “Our hearts go out to her family and her friends.”
School is out for winter break, but Knight said he expected something to be held in Hardin's honor when classes resume.
Hardin's funeral is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday at Grace United Methodist Church, with burial to follow at Lancaster Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Hartley Funeral Home in Lancaster.
