Road conditions in Lexington County cause deadly wreck during Winter Storm Gianna, coroner's release shows

83-year-old Lexington County woman died during Winter Storm Fern from hypothermia, DPH reported

Posted 2/3/26

Elaina Lynn Valencia, 39, of Batesburg, has been identified by Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher as the woman who died after a two-car crash during Winter Storm Gianna. 

The accident …

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Road conditions in Lexington County cause deadly wreck during Winter Storm Gianna, coroner's release shows

83-year-old Lexington County woman died during Winter Storm Fern from hypothermia, DPH reported

Posted

Elaina Lynn Valencia, 39, of Batesburg, has been identified by Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher as the woman who died after a two-car crash during Winter Storm Gianna on Jan. 31. 

The accident happened at about 7:10 p.m. on Augusta Highway in the Town of Lexington area, according to a release from the coroner. 

Fisher said Valencia "was traveling southbound on Augusta Highway when, due to road conditions, her vehicle crossed the center line and struck a vehicle that was traveling northbound. Mrs. Valencia, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene."

A passenger in Valencia's car was injured and transported to a nearby hospital, as well as the driver and passenger of the other vehicle. 

The Lexington County Coroner’s Office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol are investigating. 

Winter Storm Fern death in Lexington County

The South Carolina Department of Public Health reports that six people in the state died during Winter Storm Fern, which happened the weekend before Winter Storm Gianna. 

"On Wednesday, Jan. 21, an 85-year-old male died in Laurens County from hypothermia, and a death on Friday, Jan. 30, of a 91-year-old Laurens County female from hypothermia was ruled by the coroner as storm-related," according to a DPH release. "DPH confirmed the deaths of a 79-year-old male in Oconee County from a slip-and-fall accident; and a 59-year-old male in Charleston County, an 83-year-old female in Lexington County, and a 96-year-old female in Greenwood County, all from hypothermia." 

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