St. Helena Island man dies in accident on U.S. 21

A 40-year-old St. Helena Island man died in a single-vehicle accident early Saturday on U.S. 21 at Folly Road after he lost control of the minivan he was driving during an argument with his wife, according to authorities.

Emergency personnel were called at 3:59 a.m. to the accident site about six miles south of Beaufort on St. Helena Island. S.C. Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Bob Beres said Darryl Douglas Bradley was driving south on U.S. 21 when he lost control and ran off the right side of the highway.

Bradley -- who lived in the Saxonville community with his wife, Florence -- was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the 1999 Ford minivan, according to Beres. Beaufort County deputy coroner Ed Allen said the vehicle overturned in Village Creek.

Lady's Island-St. Helena Fire District personnel found Bradley's body in the marsh, according to Allen. Florence Bradley, 35 -- the lone passenger in the minivan -- was removed from the vehicle and taken to Beaufort Memorial Hospital. She was later transferred to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, where she was in fair condition Saturday afternoon.

Beres said she also was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, which occurred during an argument between the couple, according to Allen.

"Apparently as the argument ensued, he lost control of the vehicle," Allen said.

No charges were filed, according to Beres. Allen said there was no autopsy planned.