Mayor of Marion County town killed in tractor crash, deputy coroner says
By Tonya Brown (WPDE)
Frank Jones (Credit: Tonya Brown/WPDE)
MARION COUNTY, SC (WPDE) — Frank Jones, 71, died Thursday afternoon from injuries suffered in a tractor crash on Slabtown Road in the Sellers community where Jones served as mayor, according to Marion County Deputy Coroner Jim Gray.
Several community members said Jones was riding the tractor when it overturned.
Highway Patrol is investigating the incident but hasn’t released what led up to the tractor overturning and crashing.
Several deputies with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office were on scene assisting troopers.
The tractor overturned, according to community members.
Dozens of people gathered on scene and many appeared to be very upset.
A large tow truck pulled up on the scene and parked in marshy and wooded area.
Jones was elected as Mayor Of Sellers in February, 23 years after he was first elected to lead the town.
He was convicted of mail fraud in 1999 and sentenced to 46 months in prison, according to federal documents.
ABC15 talked with Jones in February after he won his bid for the mayor’s position. He said then he had a heart to help the people of Sellers and he’s never stopped working to make the community a better place.
Jones said he knew he was going to win the race.
“I won’t surprised. Because I always treat people nice. A couple of weeks ago, I had a lady she’s 80-year-old. She called because she was locked out of her bedroom. I got up at 12:30 a.m. It was cold. I went down there and helped the lady get in her room,” said Jones. “I got several plans. Trying to clean up the town. The railroad property. Get it cleaned up. Applying for grants. Like I did before when I was in office. Just trying to help people get their houses fixed it.”
He said he had big plans to make Sellers a better place.
Many people said Jones will be dearly missed because he did all he could to help Sellers.
