Driver killed in crash involving USC assistant football coach named by coroner
The driver who was killed in a recent crash that involved an assistant coach for the University of South Carolina football team was publicly identified Monday.
Kelly M. Johnson, a 35-year-old Columbia resident, is the person who died in the Aug. 22 collision, Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford said Monday in a news release.
Gamecocks assistant coach Travian Roberston was injured in the wreck, The State previously reported. As of Monday, Robertson remained in trauma ICU at Prisma Health Richland hospital, a source with information on the situation told The State Monday. Further information on his condition was not available, but last Friday Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer said Robertson is expected to make a full recovery.
The collision happened at about 5:45 a.m. Friday on U.S. 76/Dutch Fork Road, near the Chapin area of Richland County, according to Master Trooper Mitchell Ridgeway of the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Johnson was driving a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder west on Dutch Fork Road, while Robertson was driving east in a 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, the Highway Patrol said. The Nissan crossed left of the center line and collided head-on with the Chevy, and Johnson died at the scene, Ridgeway said.
There was no word if either Johnson or Robertson was wearing a seat belt.
Information about what caused the Nissan to veer into oncoming traffic was not available, but the crash continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol and coroner’s office.
Robertson, a former defensive lineman at South Carolina from 2007-11, is entering his third season as the Gamecocks’ defensive line coach.
“Travian Robertson was involved in a car accident (Friday) morning,” Beamer said in the statement shared by USC. ..“We expect him to make a full recovery and be back out on the field soon. Please keep the families of those involved in the accident in your prayers and respect the Robertson family’s privacy during this time.”
USC begins its 2025 season on Sunday against Virginia Tech in Atlanta.
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This story was originally published August 25, 2025 at 11:24 AM with the headline "Driver killed in crash involving USC assistant football coach named by coroner."
