Bryan Corey Hayes of Georgeton, SC, Tragically Dies After Trailer Detaches from Pickup, Hit and Run Driver Charged

On June 17, Bryan Corey Hayes of Georgetown, SC, was killed in a motorcycle accident caused by a hit-and-run driver, who has now been arrested and charged.

Officials say the wreck happened on US 71 near SC 51 on Wednesday, June 17.  A pickup truck driven by Earl Fred Walker, 52, was hauling a trailer, which somehow detached from the vehicle. It then crashed into a motorcycle driven by Bryan Corey Hayes, 24. Sadly, Hayes was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Walker kept driving and fled the scene. He was later arrested on Friday, June 19, and charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.

Unfortunately, trailer decoupling incidents have caused other deaths. In fact, about 400 people die each year in the US from this type of accident. Once a trailer detaches, there is no way to control it, and this usually happens when the vehicle and trailer are in motion. If it detaches at a high speed, which is common, the trailer often flies away from the trailer at a similarly high speed, and can be deadly if it hits other vehicles or pedestrians.

There can be many causes of decoupling accidents, but frequently they are the result of the trailer being hooked to the vehicle incorrectly. Trailer overload, steep declines, and issues with the hitch may also be factors. Drivers are encouraged to follow all manufacturer instructions for connecting a trailer to a pickup, double check the connection, and avoid overloading the trailer. They should also slow down and exercise caution when driving down steep downhill slopes.

If you know a surviving family member of a person who was injured or killed in an accident, please encourage them to contact our firm immediately. The consultation is completely free, with no out-of-pocket cost to the family to hire us.

For over 25 years the attorneys at Auger & Auger have been dedicated to protecting the rights of individuals and families that have suffered injuries or lost loved ones due to the negligence of others. We have years of experience guiding and helping our clients every step of the way to receive compensation for aspects such as medical bills, funeral costs, and other monetary loss. 

Editorial Note: At A&A we are always looking to improve the quality and safety and are saddened by the outcome of many tragic accidents across the Carolinas. The purpose of this news blog is to write about cases relevant to our industry and raise awareness about injury cases so that victims of similar incidents can educate themselves on theories of liability, the law, and how personal injury cases typically work. This article is created using publicly available information and is a secondary source. If you find any information here to be inaccurate, please notify us at [email protected], and we will make the appropriate adjustments.