Three who died in I-95 crash identified

By: Jamie Rogers | SCNow
Published: July 31, 2008

A late night-traffic crash left three people, including an 8-year-old boy, dead, and authorities looking for answers as to how the collision happened.

Abdurahman Abdurahman, 20, who is believed to a be student at an Arizona college; Sofonias Debebe, 20, of Alexandria, Va.; and Deraa Hago, 8, of London all were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, Florence County Coroner M.G. “Bubba” Matthews said.

Another person traveling in their 2008 Toyota van was airlifted to a Wilmington, N.C., hospital for treatment, Matthews said.

The van was occupied by 10 people and was traveling north on Interstate 95 when the crash happened, he said. Their destination remains unclear.

The crashed happened at about 11:45p.m. near the 170 mile marker on I-95 near a rest area, S.C. Highway Patrol reports show.

S.C. Highway Patrol troopers said a 50-year-old man from Washington, D.C., was driving the van when it collided with a log truck driven by a 39-year-old Georgia man. The truck wasn’t carrying any logs at the time of the crash.

The Highway Patrol’s Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team is reconstructing the crash. No further details about the crash will be released until that investigation is complete.

This is the second multi-fatality crash to happen in Florence County less than two months, according to highway patrol reports.

On June 14, three people died after the 1980 Chevrolet in which they were traveling was struck from behind by a 2000 Volvo.

Jamahl Robinson, 4, Shajaisia Robinson, 9, and Armenis Cato Jr., 55, all died of injuries they suffered during that crash. Two others in the Chevrolet, including the children’s mother, were treated at an area hospital for treatment.

The driver of the Volvo, 31-year-old Phillip Roland Marshall of Florence, faces five counts of felony driving under the influence in connection with that crash, Florence County Detention Center booking reports show.

Marshall was released from the jail in Effingham on June 26 after posting $65,000 bond.

— Former WBTW News13 photojournalist Brian Formica contributed to this report.