Man dies when truck overturns

An early morning accident today on Lowry's Road, about 12 miles south of Gaffney, resulted in Cherokee County's 13th traffic fatality of the year, Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler reported.

The coroner said 24-year-old Daniel Eric Smarr, of 1359 McKown's Mountain Road, was the lone occupant of a 1986 Chevrolet truck that was headed east on Lowry's Road at about 2:05 a.m.

Smarr lost control of his vehicle in the 400 block, ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a driveway culvert, causing the vehicle to overturn twice before coming to rest, Fowler said.

Smarr, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle, the coroner reported.

Smarr died of a closed head injury. The coroner reported that speed and alcohol were contributing factors in the crash.

(Tim Gulla)