Pendleton, SC — December 19, 2025, Whitney Gillespie was killed and another person was injured in a truck accident at about 6 p.m. on Mays Street.

Authorities said a 2001 Hyundai SUV exited U.S. Route 76 onto Mays Street when it lost control and crashed into a parked semi-truck.

Driver Whitney Gillespie, 32, of Brevard, NC was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.

A passenger was flown to a Greenville hospital with unspecified injuries, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Anderson County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read about a crash like this, the first question is simple: how does a vehicle lose control and end up hitting a parked semi-truck? The early reports don’t give us enough information to answer that, and that gap matters.

What we know so far is limited. A passenger vehicle exited a highway, lost control and struck a parked semi-truck on a city street. One person died, and another was seriously injured. That’s where the facts stop. Everything else, the why and the how, is still unclear.

It’s not clear why the vehicle lost control. Was there a mechanical problem with the SUV? Was the roadway wet, uneven or poorly lit? Did something happen during the exit from the highway that caused the driver to overcorrect? Without vehicle data, scene measurements and witness accounts, those questions remain unanswered.

It’s also not clear why the semi-truck was parked there or how visible it was. Was it legally parked? Were hazard lights on? Was it partially in the roadway or fully off to the side? If visibility was limited at 6 p.m., lighting and placement matter. Those details can change how responsibility is evaluated.

From my experience handling truck crash cases, these situations often turn on evidence most people never think about. The truck may have electronic data showing when it stopped and whether lights or hazards were activated. Nearby businesses or homes may have security cameras. The SUV may have its own data that shows speed, steering input or braking just before impact. None of that comes from a quick police summary.

Right now, authorities say no additional information has been released. That doesn’t mean answers don’t exist; it just means no one has connected the dots yet. Until there’s a full investigation that looks beyond the surface, we don’t really know who made what decisions or whether this crash could have been avoided.

These cases are rarely as simple as they first appear. A parked truck doesn’t automatically mean no responsibility, and a loss of control doesn’t explain itself. The truth only comes out when the evidence is gathered and tested.

Key Takeaways

• Early crash reports often leave out the most important details.
• It’s not yet clear why the vehicle lost control or how the truck was positioned.
• Visibility, lighting and legality of where the truck was parked all matter.
• Vehicle data, cameras and scene evidence are critical to understanding what happened.
• Accountability depends on answers that only a full investigation can provide.