Laurens family of 3 killed in York Co. crash

Three members of a Laurens family died in a car accident that claimed the lives of four people Saturday night in McConnells in York County.

Jim Daniels, 60, wife Patchell Williams Daniels, 39 and their 5-year-old son, Michaiah Daniels were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. According to the S.C. Highway Patrol, a vehicle driven by Mitchell Alexander Jeter, 22, of Rock Hill, ran off the right side of the road and over-corrected, causing him to cross the center line and crash head-on into the Daniels family’s Honda.

Jeter was also pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which occurred just before 10 p.m. Saturday.

The Daniels family attended church at Trees of Righteousness Ministry in Laurens, The church was founded by Jim Daniels’ mother, Willhelmenia Daniels, who passed away in March. The family kept the ministry and church going after her death, said friend Minnie Maronie of Laurens.

Patchell Daniels was a minister at Trees of Righteousness.

Jim Daniels was remembered by Maronie, a former co-worker, as kind, hard-working and trustworthy.

“When we worked together, he always picked me up to go to work,’ Maronie said. “He did all the work around here that needed to be done, too. If I had to work and needed something done here, I’d give him my key and never worry about it.”

Machaiah Daniels was a student at Hickory Tavern School.

Jeter was a former All-American defensive tackle at The Citadel. He was Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 and in camp with the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes in June.

The accident is still under investigation, according to the SCHP.