Woman In Labor Among Family Members Killed On Way To Hospital

DARLINGTON, SC — Three people and two unborn babies were killed in South Carolina when an SUV ran off the side of a road and rolled into a ditch, authorities said.

Chikari Douglas-Rouse, 28, went into labor on Friday and was in a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer with 10 other people headed to a hospital when the vehicle left Rogers Road, authorities said. All 11 people were thrown from the rolling vehicle around 10 p.m. in Darlington.

The victims were identified as Leonard Rouse, 52, of Darlington; Nakisha Rouse, 14, of Darlington; Chikari Douglas-Rouse, 28, of Hartsville; Baby Boy Douglas-Graham and the unborn child of Chikari Douglas-Rouse, The Hartsville Messenger reported.

None were wearing a seat belt.

Eight others were hurt and taken to McLeod Medical Center in serious condition, the news outlet said. One person was in critical condition.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Patch has reached out to the county coroner and the sheriff's office for details and will update when we hear back.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo credit: Patch