Pedestrians Hit on Strip

A Negro woman was killed and another seriously injured after being struck by a car in the 1400 block of Harden Street at 2:10 yesterday afternoon.

Irene Nelson, 40, of Blaney, was killed. The car was driven by Kenly Crumpton, 31, of 1824 Gregg Street.

The victim and a companion, Bertha Harris, were standing on a traffic median strip when Crumpton’s 1951 Mercury sedan swerved past a car on the left, went up on the island and hit them.

The Harris woman, according to police reports, was in critical condition at Columbia Hospital.

The police report stated that Crumpton’s car was attempting to pass a car on the left as he traveled South on Harden, went out of control and traveled down the median strip 90 feet before striking the two pedestrians.

One of the women was knocked 67 feet and the other 96 feet.

The car traveled 210 feet before stopping.

Crumpton is being held pending an inquest, which is set for 7:30 Friday night, according to Richland Coroner Cecil Wiles.

Investigating the accident were Coroner Wiles, Capt. Bert Fridy of the Columbia Traffic Division, Sgt. P. L. O’Quinn’ and Officers R. C. Kirby and F. J. Revetta.