Greer man killed when SUV crashes into tunnel

Posted: Updated:

By Casey Vaughn - email

Investigators at the scene of a fiery crash along Muddy Ford Road. (Feb. 15, 2013/FOX Carolina)

- Pit Crew Traffic

GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) -

A Greer man was killed when his vehicle crashed into the dividing wall of a tunnel near Interstate 85 in Greenville County on Friday morning.

The crash happened about 10:45 a.m. where Muddy Ford Road passes underneath I-85.

Greenville County Coroner Kent Dill said a sport utility vehicle, driven by 43-year-old Thomas "Mike" Johnson, collided with the wall that divides the two lanes inside the tunnel.

Witnesses said the vehicle the burst into flames, sending smoke in the direction of the interstate above the tunnel.

Dill said Johnson died as a result of blunt force trauma from the crash, and did not die in the subsequent fire.

The Highway Patrol was investigating the cause of the crash.

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