Driver dies after hitting cow in Lancaster County

A South Carolina man died Tuesday night after the truck he was driving hit a cow that was in the road in Lancaster County, troopers say.

The driver, Joel Knight, 52, of Kershaw County, died at the scene, said Karla Knight Deese, Lancaster County deputy coroner.

The crash happened at 6:20 p.m. on S.C. 522 southeast of Lancaster and northeast of Heath Springs. The 2006 Ford Ranger pickup that Knight was driving hit the cow that was in the road, then the truck smashed a fence, said Lance Cpl. Tony Keller of the S.C. Highway Patrol.

He was wearing a seat belt.

The highway patrol investigation team is investigating the collision.

Authorities said the cow also died at the scene.

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 9:06 AM with the headline "Driver dies after hitting cow in Lancaster County."