Scott’s Branch coach killed in pickup truck crash

SUMTER, S.C. (AP) — Authorities say the girls’ basketball coach at Scott’s Branch High School has died after her pickup truck hit a horse standing in the road.

Investigators said 41-year-old Ruth Coard was not wearing her seat belt when she struck the animal around 8:45 p.m. Thursday on U.S. 378 near Interstate 95 in Sumter County.

Troopers say Coard lost control of her pickup and it struck a tree. Her son was also in the truck, but he was wearing his seat belt and was not seriously injured.

Clarendon School District 1 officials say Coard had been coach at Scott’s Branch since 2005. The school has canceled its girls and boys games Friday and Monday.