A two-vehicle accident that occurred on May 18 at the intersection of Neely Wingard Road and Ben Franklin Road in the Leesville area killed two local women.

Claire Ann Pierce, 22, of Lexington, and Eliza Jane Udy, 21, of Leesville, were both identified by Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher; one was pronounced dead at the scene while the other died at a nearby hospital.

According to the press release, Pierce and Udy were both passengers in a car traveling southbound on Neely Wingard Road when their vehicle was hit by another vehicle that was traveling eastbound on Ben Franklin Road. 

Pierce was pronounced dead on the scene, while Udy was transported to a nearby hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

The driver of the vehicle Udy and Pierce were in was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

The driver of the other vehicle was also transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol, South Carolina Highway Patrol MAIT and the Lexington County Coroner’s Office will continue to investigate the incident.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety recently announced a preliminary number of three people killed on South Carolina roadways during the weekend beginning Friday, May 16, at 6 p.m. until Sunday, May 18, at 11:59 p.m., emphasizing that these numbers are preliminary and based on fatal collisions compiled by SCDPS as of 11:59 p.m. on May 18, 2025.

On May 19, Abel Ramierz Ortega, 37, was arrested and charged with two counts of felony driving under the influence, which led to the two deaths. Ortega was additionally charged with driving without a license, first offense, and driving with a suspended license, second offense.