Two people were killed in a motorcycle crash over the weekend in Laurens County, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol. The fatal, single-vehicle collision occurred Saturday evening at approximately 7:10 p.m. on Jones Road in the Fountain Inn area, authorities said.
Cpl. Nick Pye with the Highway Patrol identified the victims as Gray Court residents Ryan Joseph Padgett, 32, and Justin Bradley Cathcart, 35. The Laurens County Coroner’s Office confirmed both men died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash and ruled the deaths an accident.
Investigators said Padgett and Cathcart were traveling south on Jones Road on a 2026 Kawasaki motorcycle. As the motorcycle entered the 400 block of the roadway, it ran off the right side of the road for reasons that have not yet been determined. The motorcycle then struck a fire hydrant before colliding with a tree, according to officials.
Both men were ejected from the motorcycle into a nearby wooded area. Emergency responders arrived on scene, but Padgett and Cathcart were pronounced dead at the location. Authorities said no other vehicles were involved in the crash, and no additional injuries were reported.
It was not immediately clear which of the two men was operating the motorcycle and which was riding as a passenger at the time of the collision. Officials also said they could not confirm whether either man was wearing a helmet.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The South Carolina Highway Patrol, along with the Laurens County Coroner’s Office, continues to review the circumstances surrounding the incident, including possible contributing factors such as road conditions, speed, or impairment.
Jones Road was temporarily impacted as authorities conducted their investigation and cleared the scene. Further details may be released once the investigation is complete.
