Carl Jay Benner dies in fatal Anderson County car crash

Carl Jay Benner dies in fatal Anderson County car crash

Fatal Anderson County car crash death of Carl Jay Benner – Obituary

ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. — Authorities have confirmed that 55-year-old Carl Jay Benner of Greenville died after being found in Lake Hartwell on New Year’s Day.

The body was discovered by a paddleboarder near the Anderson Northbound Rest Area off I-85 around 2:40 p.m. Benner had been reported missing after being last seen early Sunday morning following a car accident near the lake.

According to the coroner, Benner’s vehicle collided with another car in the rear and struck the cable barrier in the median of I-85 South. It is believed he then attempted to walk through the wooded area toward the rest area, ultimately entering the lake where he drowned.

The incident is under investigation by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, the coroner’s office, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.