Kensington County, South Carolina ( WFCN News) –
His death on the route to a game in Sumter has left the Rock Hill community lamenting the loss of a much-loved baseball coach.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol reports that the fatal accident occurred on August 10 at 11:40 a.m. along I-20, approximately seven miles west of Camden, South Carolina.
According to troopers, three automobiles were entangled in the collision. Among the vehicles reported to be going east on I-20 were a 2024 Freightliner tractor-trailer, a 2006 Ford truck, and a 2011 Buick automobile.
According to troopers, the Buick and Ford were the first two cars to halt because of oncoming traffic. The tractor-trailer driver careened into the back of the Ford pickup truck without braking. The Ford pickup continued on and collided with the rear of the Buick automobile.
The Buick and the Ford both veered off the road, with the Ford eventually flipping over.
The driver of the Ford pickup, 29-year-old Jalen Benjamin, also known as “J-Rock,” was declared dead at the scene, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
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Two individuals who were in the Buick were taken to the hospital to be treated for their injuries. The tractor-trailer driver escaped the collision unscathed.
The Sumter baseball coach, Jalen Benjamin, was reportedly killed in the crash that occurred on his way to the game, as reported by LCA Athletics. The funeral costs are the reason for this fund-raiser.
With a target of$15,000, we have raised almost $17,000 thus far. Oakdale Baptist Church, 17 Oakdale Rd., Rock Hill, North Carolina, will have a memorial service on Saturday, August 17, at 2 p.m.
Being able to connect with his student-athletes on a deeper level was a gift that Coach Benjamin, a remarkable young coach, possessed.
His relationship with his players was consistently encouraging and upbeat. ‘We will genuinely miss his presence, his gentle personality, and his wide smile,” stated Mike Drummond, Athletic Director at Legion Collegiate Academy.
The cause of this fatal crash is still under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.