Columbia Police Chief W. H. “Skip” Holbrook announces that a 24-year-old man was fatally wounded in a single-vehicle collision.
According to Richland County Coroner Gary Watts, Nicholas Rusch died as a result of complications from blunt force trauma during an incident that occurred at the 300 block of Elmwood Avenue at approximately 1:30 a.m. on May 6, 2019.
The preliminary investigation conducted by the CPD Traffic Safety Unit, indicates that Rusch was traveling eastbound on I-126, wasn’t able to negotiate a curve, and lost control of the motorcycle, a 2004 Honda CBR-600.
The motorcycle then struck the raised curb near the inner median wall, causing Rusch to be ejected from his vehicle. Rusch was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident.
He was taken to a local hospital by EMS, where medical staff pronounced him deceased later yesterday afternoon.