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Darlington man, 53, dies following afternoon vehicle crash
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DARLINGTON - A 53-year-old man was killed in traffic crash in a school zone Tuesday, according to the Darlington police chief.

At about 3:20 p.m., Carnell Barbee experienced some type of medical problem shortly before losing control of his vehicle while traveling south on Center Hill Road, Police Chief Jason King said in an interview Tuesday.

After losing control, the vehicle struck a tree and Barbee later died from his injuries, not the medical condition, King said.

"We believe that there was some type of medical problem that led to the accident, according to the many witnesses at the scene," King said.

The number of witnesses helped police investigate the crash, according to King.

"It was a school zone - buses, kids - everybody was there," he said.

Center Hill Road is a city street with a 25 mile-per-hour speed limit.

No other vehicles and no other persons were involved in the crash.

Barbee, who was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, was transported to Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County by Rural Medical Ambulance Service, where he later died.

The Darlington Fire Department and Lafayette County Sheriff's Department assisted at the scene.

The matter remains under investigation.

Barbee's death is the sixth traffic fatality in Lafayette County in 2009.