NEWBERRY — In the span of two days three roadway fatalities took place in Newberry County. On Thursday, April 12 Tommy Riley, 34, of North Augusta, was killed in a single vehicle collision. On Saturday, April 12, Stephen Herlong, 46, of Whitmire and Amy Miller Milhalik, 27, of Newberry were killed in a motorcycle collision.

“Newberry County has had three roadway fatalities within two days of each other. These were the first for our county for the 2018 year, I pray they will be the last. These are all very tragic incidents for all families involved. As the days get warmer there will be an increase number of cars and motorcycles on the roadway. It is important that we all wear our seat belts, wear helmets and abide by the posted speed limits,” said Newberry County Coroner Laura Kneece.

According to Justin Sutherland with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Riley was traveling on Zion Church Road when he ran off the road and his vehicle overturned. Sutherland said Riley was not wearing a seat belt. According to Kneece, he was pronounced dead at Palmetto Health Richland after being transported by Lifenet. An autopsy concluded that Riley died as a result of blunt force injury of the head.

The second wreck involved a motorcycle traveling on Airport Road. Sutherland said the motorcycle ran off the road, with both the driver and passenger being ejected. According to Kneece, autopsies show that Herlong and Mihalik died of blunt force injury of the head. Neither were wearing helmets.

By Andrew Wigger

awigger@newberryobserver.com

Reach Andrew Wigger at 803-276-0625 ext. 1867 or on Twitter @ TheNBOnews.