Hardeeville Today

A Beaufort motorcyclist driving recklessly on Interstate 95 died Saturday, June 20, evening after removing his helmet, striking another motorbike and then hitting a guardrail.

James Paul Abercrombie, 45, of Beaufort was riding motorcycles with another man north on I-95 when witnesses say he removed his helmet and threw it. He then maneuvered his bike to tap the motorcycle in front of him and lost control, according to authorities.

Abercrombie slid 500 feet, hit a guardrail, and bounced another 500 feet, said Jasper County Coroner Martin Sauls. He died at the scene.

The driver of the other motorcycle stopped briefly but then fled the scene.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the crash and has called in its Multidisciplinary Accident Reconstruction Team.