Ladson Road Crash Kills Charleston County Deputy: The Truck-Collision Investigation
Live 5 News reports that Deputy Michael Hendricks died in a Ladson Road collision involving a tractor-trailer. Investigators had not announced a final determination of fault.
Informational purposes only. This article provides legal information and commentary, not legal advice. Every case is different — contact Traywick Law Offices for a free evaluation.
The Incident
Live 5 News reported on September 10, 2026, that Charleston County Deputy Michael Hendricks, 33, died following an on-duty collision on Ladson Road. The report describes an eastbound 2023 Volvo tractor-trailer and a westbound 2018 Ford pickup assigned to the sheriff's office. The vehicles collided, and the pickup caught fire. The tractor-trailer driver was taken to a hospital with injuries.
The crash closed Ladson Road between Highway 78 and Lincolnville Road for several hours. The South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Charleston County Coroner's Office were investigating. The report does not establish which driver caused the collision. The legal discussion below concerns the evidence and procedures that can matter after a fatal truck crash; it is not a finding about this crash or either driver.
Original news report: Live 5 News: Troopers investigating crash that killed Charleston County deputy (reported 2026-09-10).
What South Carolina Law Says
A South Carolina negligence claim requires proof of a duty, a breach, causation, and damages. A collision involving a commercial truck can require examination of the driver's conduct and the carrier's own maintenance, hiring, supervision, and dispatch practices. The truck's involvement alone does not make the carrier liable.
A wrongful death action is generally pursued by the deceased person's estate representative for the beneficiaries recognized by statute. Because this report concerns an on-duty employee, employment-related benefits may also require review. The interaction between those benefits and any third-party claim depends on the facts. A police investigation and a civil claim have different purposes and do not necessarily conclude at the same time.
Your Rights and Options
Families should preserve available crash reports, witness information, photographs, and insurance correspondence. Counsel can evaluate preservation requests for vehicle data, cameras, maintenance records, and driver logs before routine retention periods expire. People should not attempt to enter a crash scene or obtain restricted records themselves.
What I Look For When Evaluating These Cases
I look at vehicle movements, impact locations, sightlines, physical evidence, and any reliable electronic recordings. The pickup fire may complicate reconstruction, making records from both vehicles important. I also identify the estate representative, potential insurance coverage, and whether any employment-related reimbursement issue affects the recovery.
How Insurance Companies Will Fight Back
A carrier or insurer may dispute fault, causation, the availability of electronic data, or the amount of claimed damages. Those issues must be tested against the actual evidence. A serious injury or death does not eliminate the need to establish responsibility, and an early explanation is not a substitute for reconstruction.
Related Practice Areas at Traywick Law Offices
This type of investigation connects with Charleston truck accident claims, motor vehicle collisions, and workplace injury issues.
My Final Thoughts
This was a fatal local collision, not a hypothetical example. The reported investigation should be allowed to establish the facts. For families facing a similar loss, timely preservation of evidence and a careful review of available claims are more useful than immediate assumptions about fault.
The date at the top is this article's editorial publication date. The original report and incident dates are identified above. Legal commentary is separate from the reported facts; allegations are not court findings.
Talk to a Charleston Attorney
For advice about your situation in Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, or the Lowcountry, contact Traywick Law Offices or call (843) 343-5092. A consultation can help identify the documents, deadlines, and legal issues that need attention.
This article is for general informational purposes only, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Outcomes depend on individual facts, applicable law, and procedural requirements. This article summarizes the linked local news reporting. It does not establish liability or replace the investigating agency's findings or a court's decision.
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