Greenville County school teacher killed in weekend crash, district says
A Greenville County elementary school is mourning the passing of a teacher after she was killed in a crash over the weekend.
The Greenville County Coroner's Office said that Cynthia Willimon Fricks, 64, of Cleveland, died Saturday in a three-vehicle crash on River Road near U.S. Highway 276, or Geer Highway, a half-mile east of Cleveland.
Tim Waller, communications director for Greenville County Schools, said Fricks retired from Armstrong Elementary School last year and returned this year to fill a third-grade substitute position.
The crash was reported at 1 p.m., according to South Carolina Highway Patrol troopers.
Master Trooper Gary Miller said Fricks was driving a 2014 Toyota Prius, heading east on Highway 276, troopers said.
He said a woman driving a 1999 Isuzu Rodeo SUV with two passengers was stopped at a stoplight and facing west on Highway 276.
Jorge Urquia-Revera, 25, of Taylors, driving a 2003 Ford F250 pickup truck and towing a trailer, was headed west on Highway 276 when he struck the SUV in the rear, according to Miller.
The pickup then traveled left of center and struck Fricks' Prius head-on, Miller said.
Fricks, who was wearing a seat belt, was entrapped in the wreckage and was pronounced dead at the scene, Miller said.
The woman and two passengers in the SUV were wearing a seat belt and were not injured, Miller said.
Urquia-Revera was also wearing a seat belt, was not injured and was charged with driving too fast for conditions, Miller said.
An email sent to WYFF News 4 on Tuesday said that Armstrong Elementary was decorated in "a sea of blue" in Fricks' honor.