Tragedy strikes McColl just days after police resignations
George Garner II, the mayor of McColl, South Carolina, died in a car crash on November 26, just days after the town’s entire police force resigned.
The 49-year-old had recently been re-elected to his position and was widely regarded as a dedicated leader in the small town of 1,900 residents.
Darlington County Coroner J Todd Hardee confirmed the news in a Facebook post on Tuesday. McColl Mayor George Garner II, 49, died when a car he was traveling in collided with a truck.
The accident occurred around 2:40 p.m. on Highway 34 in Mechanicsville. Garner’s vehicle veered left of the center line and collided with an 18-wheeler.
He was transported to McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence but succumbed to his injuries. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Darlington County Coroner and the South Carolina Highway Patrol MAIT team.
Police chief cites toxic work environment
The tragedy comes on the heels of a mass resignation by McColl’s police department earlier in the month. In a statement obtained by WPDE, former police chief Bob Hale revealed his decision to resign stemmed from a toxic work environment created by a local official.
“For months, I have endured unwarranted and malicious behavior aimed at undermining my integrity and leadership,” Hale wrote. “These actions have not only affected me personally but have also created a toxic atmosphere that has hindered the department’s ability to function effectively.”
The resignations left McColl without any active law enforcement officers, creating uncertainty in the community.
Tributes pour in for Mayor Garner
The loss of Mayor Garner has left McColl in mourning. Marlboro County 911 expressed their grief in a Facebook post, stating: “Mayor Garner was truly a remarkable individual. He consistently treated everyone with warmth and respect, and his kindness left a lasting impact on those around him.”
Mayor Pro-Tem Brian Blue also offered condolences: “The mayor loved his family and the people in the Town of McColl. He always told us, whether he was in or out of office, he wanted us to move the town in the right direction.”
Garner leaves behind a wife, two sons, and a daughter. His funeral service is scheduled for December 3.
As McColl processes the dual challenges of political upheaval and the loss of its mayor, the community is united in honoring Garner’s memory and his contributions to the town he loved.
