Local law enforcement and the S.C. Highway Patrol are seeking the public's help in identifying the possible suspects who may have hit and killed a Myrtle Beach man late Wednesday night on a stretch of New Zion highway.
The body of Carey Randolph McCracken Jr., 47, was found shortly after midnight Thursday in the middle of U.S. 301 "right at Salem Road in New Zion," said Clarendon County Deputy Coroner Charles Jackson.
"He had a flat tire on the passenger's side of the vehicle," Jackson said.
Clarendon County Sheriff Randy Garrett said the State Law Enforcement Division investigation team was called in due to the extent of McCracken's injuries, which included blunt force trauma to his head, face and hands.
"We called in SLED because we couldn't be sure it wasn't something other than a hit and run, due to the injuries," Garrett said. "The SLED investigator, who used to work with the Highway Patrol Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) said it was a hit and run."
Garrett said an autopsy performed Friday at the Medical University of South Carolina also showed evidence of a hit and run.
"The pathologist said injuries were consistent with a hit and run, so now the Highway Patrol has the case," Garrett said.
Manninglive.com is waiting for a comment from the Highway Patrol. Garrett said, however, that anyone with information regarding this case can call the Sheriff's Office at (803) 435-4414.
