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Published: Monday, Mar. 08, 2010 / Updated: Monday, Mar. 08, 2010 10:05 AM

Nation Ford grad killed in crash

Biker dies in separate wreck

FORT MILL -- 

A Nation Ford High School graduate home on spring break died in a single-car wreck Sunday — one of two highway deaths in York County over the weekend, officials said.

The Nation Ford graduate, Dakota “Cody” Quinton, 18, of 7204 Meyer Rd. in Fort Mill, died early Sunday from injuries suffered in a collision near Springfield Parkway and Gold Hill Road, York County Coroner Sabrina Gast said.

Quinton graduated last year from Nation Ford High, Principal Beverley Bowman said. His death marks the third time since October that the school has lost a current or former student.

“Another tragedy,” Bowman said. “I hurt for our students, and I hurt for his family. We have to work through that again.”

On Oct. 12, 2009, Michelle DiBernardini, 16, died when the car she was riding in collided with a pickup truck. Less than six days later, Luke Hoover, 17, died in a single vehicle wreck.

“I was really hoping and praying that we were done with losing students for a very long time,” Bowman said. “I’m pretty flabbergasted to know that we have another tragedy.”

Fort Mill school Superintendent Keith Callicutt said: “We are always extremely saddened to learn of a death so young. My heartfelt prayers and sympathy go out to the family.”

Provisions will be made today for students grieving for Quinton, Bowman said. He was attending the College of Charleston, she said.

“Even though he wasn’t a student at Nation Ford anymore, he was still connected,” she said.

Gast said Quinton was on spring break at the time of Sunday’s wreck. While an autopsy will not be done, toxicology test are pending, she said.

The fatal wreck happened around 2:38 a.m., according to the highway patrol. He was driving a two-door 1995 Ford Mustang, according to Lance Cpl. Josef Robinson of the highway patrol.

“He was driving east on Springfield Parkway, entered a curve, lost control, drove off the left side of the road, struck a utility pole and several trees before overturning,” Robinson said.

Quinton was wearing a seat belt, Robinson and Gast said. He was taken to Piedmont Medical Center, where he later died.

The speed limit for the area where Quinton was driving is 55 mph, Robinson said. Quinton’s speed was not available Sunday.

As of March 4, 111 people have died on South Carolina roads, according to the S.C. Office of Highway Safety. By contrast, 149 people died last year on state roads.