‘Credits to our community’: 3 men killed, 1 hurt in crash
The three Darlington men killed in a single-car accident early Saturday were “credits to our community,” Darlington County Coroner Todd Hardee said.
Canado Campos, 42, a roofer; Aaron Morales, 49, owner of Aaron’s Lawn Service; and Juan Valencia, 46, a member of the family that owns Tenampa Restaurant on the Darlington Public Square, all were killed when the car they were in ran off Indian Branch Road near Branhams Airport Road about 6:30 a.m., according to Hardee and the S.C. Highway Patrol.
The vehicle struck a utility pole and overturned. A fourth person suffered serious injuries and was taken to a local hospital. The accident remained under investigation.
“All three of these gentlemen (who died) were credits to our community,” Hardee said. “Their presence will be missed.”
Hardee said Campos was a roofer whose “work can be seen all over the Pee Dee.” He said Campos specialized in historic buildings, including “many buildings in downtown Darlington and Florence.” Early obituary information on Kistler-Hardee Funeral Home’s website lists his full name as Candido Campos Hurtado.
Morales owned Aaron’s Lawn Service. Hardee said he and his son, Aaron, “were responsible for many beautification projects around Darlington and Hartsville.”
Hardee said Valencia and his family own Tenampa Restaurant in Darlington. “They were one of the first businesses to make their home on the Public Square,” Hardee said, “beginning the new revitalization of the downtown area.”
— Bobby Bryant