A former Gaffney woman died in a single-vehicle accident at 2:30 a.m. Monday in Lancaster County, according to Cpl. Bryan McDougald of the S.C. Highway Patrol.

Salina Gayle Upchurch, 31, of Myrtle Beach, died at the scene of the accident on Highway 903, about 11 miles east of Lancaster. Upchurch was a Gaffney native.

Upchurch and two children were thrown from a 2002 Kia sport utility vehicle, McDougald said.

Wykeisha Wood, 11, and Timothy Upchurch, 15, both of Gaffney, were airlifted to Palmetto Richland Hospital in Columbia.

McDougald said Salina Upchurch's vehicle was traveling north when it ran off the right side of the road and struck a culvert. The vehicle overturned and ejected all three occupants.

Christy McAbee, who is related to Salina by marriage, said Salina was bringing the children home so they could go to school Monday morning. McAbee said she has been told that Salina had fallen asleep at the wheel while the two children slept in the vehicle.

McAbee said both children sought help following the accident. Timothy Upchurch walked a half mile to find someone to call 9-1-1, McAbee said. The boy's courageous journey was even more remarkable because of his injuries. He suffered a broken rib, bruised lungs, severe scrapes and required 13 staples to close a gash in the top of his head.

When Wood regained consciousness, she tried to awaken Salina, who was killed instantly, McAbee said. When the girl couldn't rouse Upchurch, she walked to a nearby home but no one answered. A passing motorist stopped and called police.

"She really loved them young un's," McAbee said about Salina Upchurch, who also has two daughters Haley and Sadie. "She was starting on a new life right as this happened. She was trying to straighten her life out and start living for her children. She was on a road to a better life when this happened.... I love Salina and I love her kids. She was a good person and I hate all this happened."

Toxicology tests are pending. Troopers said Salina was traveling the posted 55 mph speed limit at the time of the crash.