Man killed when mo-ped, truck collide at King and Line streets

Despite efforts of bystanders who rushed to his aid, a 57-year-old West Ashley man died Tuesday after being knocked off his mo-ped, then run over by a truck.

Charleston County Deputy Coroner Scott Ramsey said Gary Stephens died at Medical University Hospital of blunt-force trauma.

The collision took place about 6:20 p.m. at King and Line streets, Charleston police spokesman Charles Francis said.

Francis said a heavy work truck was traveling south on King Street and making a left turn onto Line Street when it collided with the mo-ped, which was headed north on King.

Francis said the truck driver, Juan Francisco, 37, of Redbank Road in Goose Creek, was charged with failure to yield the right of way, no S.C. driver’s license and operating an unregistered motor vehicle.

The owner of the vehicle, who was not identified, was charged with uninsured motor vehicle, allowing an unauthorized driver and failure to surrender a suspended tag.

Police closed the streets for about a block in all directions after the collision and later put up crime-scene tape to keep vehicles and pedestrians away while they conducted their investigation.

Gerrad Williams, 22, of Line Street, said he witnessed the accident from the west side of the intersection.

“I wished I could have helped him, but I tried not to touch him,” he said.

Paul Kaiser, a server at the Barsa Lounge on the corner where the incident occurred, gathered towels and headed outside to see what he could do.

A former Navy corpsman with some nursing training, Kaiser said there was little he could do until EMS quickly arrived.