Off-duty NC paramedic killed while trying to help crash victims along interstate in Florida
NIGEL AND SYDNEY ARE UP NEXT. WYFF NEWS FOUR AT SIX STARTS RIGHT NOW. THIS IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT THIS AGENCY IS. WHAT THIS AGENCY WANTS TO BE. IN THE UPSTATE DEPUTY HAS BEEN FIRED AFTER WHAT THE SHERIFF SAYS HE POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I’M REY LLERENA SPARTANBURG COUNTY WITH WHAT LED TO HIS TERMINATION. NEAR 80 DEGREES TOMORROW, BUT A WINDY DAY THAT BRINGS IN CHANGES. I’LL SHOW YOU WHAT IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. THE VOLUMES ARE COMING BACK TO NORMAL NOW AS NATIONAL PORTS BRACE FOR POTENTIAL HOLIDAY IMPACT. SOUTH CAROLINA REMAINS STEADY. A SPARTANBURG COUNTY DEPUTY IS OFF THE JOB TONIGHT AFTER THE SHERIFF SAYS HE MADE A RACIALLY INSENSITIVE POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SHERIFF BILL RYAN SAYS THE DEPUTY WAS ON THE JOB FOR FIVE YEARS BEFORE TODAY’S FIRING. REY LLERENA REPORTS FROM SPARTANBURG COUNTY. SPARTANBURG COUNTY SHERIFF BILL RYAN SAYS A UNIFORMED PATROL DEPUTY FROM THE REIDSVILLE AREA HAS BEEN FIRED AFTER HE POSTED A RACIAL SLUR ON SOCIAL MEDIA. HE SAYS THIS DECISION WAS NOT TAKEN LIGHTLY, BUT HAD TO BE MADE INSTANTLY. THAT KIND OF STUFF WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT BE TOLERATED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES AT THIS AGENCY, UNDER MY LEADERSHIP. YOU’RE LOOKING AT THE SOCIAL MEDIA POST THAT SPARTANBURG COUNTY SHERIFF SAYS LED TO A DEPUTY LOSING HIS JOB. WE HAVE BLURRED OUT THE PORTION WHERE A RACIAL SLUR WAS WRITTEN. A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT OUR ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT IT GIVES THEM A PLATFORM TO BE ABLE TO SAY ANYTHING THAT THEY WANT TO SAY. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS NOT TRUE. THE SHERIFF SAYS HE FIRST SAW THE POST FRIDAY MORNING, BUT COULD NOT SAY ON WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM IT WAS PUBLISHED. IMMEDIATELY I GO BACK TO LOOKING AT IT AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, IS HE TRYING TO INSINUATE THAT HE IS OF A DIFFERENT COLOR OR ETHNICITY? BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT AS A WHOLE, IT’S EVERY ASPECT OF IT. I WAS REALLY KIND OF TAKEN ABACK BY IT WHEN I SAW IT. THE SHERIFF SAYS. THE POST WAS PUBLISHED THURSDAY NIGHT AND A DEPUTY WAS FIRED HOURS LATER FOR VIOLATING THE AGENCY’S SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY AND RULES OF CONDUCT. RYAN SAYS HE IS NOT NAMING THE DEPUTY AT THIS TIME. THE REASON FOR THAT IS I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL TO THEM, TO GIVE THEM TIME. THIS IS VERY FRESH. THIS IS JUST HAPPENED. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I’M RESPECTFUL ENOUGH TO THEM, TO GIVE THEM TIME TO NOTIFY FAMILY AND OTHER PEOPLE. PRIOR TO THAT, THE SHERIFF TOUTING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. WE ARE GOING TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE DOING HERE. THAT’S SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY ON MY SHOULDERS TO REESTABLISH THAT TRUST WITHIN THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY, AND I’M COMMITTED TO DOING THAT. THE SHERIFF SAYS THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY WILL LIKELY PULL THIS DEPUTY’S LAW ENFORCEMENT CERTIFICATION, BUT HE SAYS THERE IS AN APPEALS PROCESS THAT THAT DEPUTY CAN GO THROUGH. REPORTING IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY, REY LLERENA WYFF NEWS FOUR. GREENVILLE POLICE SAY TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEADLY SHOOTING. OFFICERS SAY THEY WERE CALLED TO THE LAKESIDE PLACE APARTMENTS ON VILLA ROAD LAST FRIDAY. INVESTIGATORS SAY HEZEKIAH PIERCE SENIOR WAS FOUND DEAD FROM A GUNSHOT WOUND BEHIND A DUMPSTER. TODAY, INVESTIGATORS CHARGED JAQUAN BENTON AND JASMINE STALLION WITH MURDER. THEY FACE SEVERAL OTHER CHARGES AS WELL. ANYONE WITH FURTHER INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL CRIME STOPPERS AT 23 CRIME. NEW ON WYFF NEWS FOUR AT 6:00. A GREENVILLE MAN IS IN JAIL TONIGHT FACING TWO CHARGES OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR. INVESTIGATORS WITH THE INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN TASK FORCE AND GREENVILLE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ARRESTED 21 YEAR OLD D’ANGELO MARTIN ON WEDNESDAY. OFFICIALS SAY HE’S ACCUSED OF PRODUCING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL. THE INVESTIGATION INTO MARTIN BEGAN AFTER AGENTS RECEIVED A CYBERTIPLINE REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN. MARTIN FACES UP TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON IF HE’S CONVICTED ON BOTH CHARGES. DEVELOPING IN ANDERSON COUNTY, A RETIRED SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY PATROL TROOPER IS DEAD AFTER A CRASH NEAR CENTERVILLE. IT HAPPENED AROUND NOON ON WHITEHALL ROAD, AND MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR BOULEVARD. THE CORONER SAYS 58 YEAR OLD CHARLES COGGINS WAS KILLED, WHILE TWO OTHERS WERE FLOWN TO THE HOSPITAL. INVESTIGATORS SAY COGGINS WAS A PASSENGER IN A 1967 PONTIAC GTO THAT WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. MULTIPLE AGENCIES ARE INVESTIGATING THE CRASH. WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN WE LEARN MORE. TONIGHT ON 4 YOUR HEALTH. CONCERNS ARE GROWING ABOUT MEASLES AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAYS. TODAY, THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH REPORTED THREE NEW CASES OF THE INFECTION. RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE 55 CASES OF MEASLES IN SOUTH CAROLINA, WITH 52 OF THOSE BEING REPORTED IN THE UPSTATE. OF THAT NUMBER, 41 ARE 17 YEARS OR YOUNGER, WHILE ONLY SIX ARE ADULTS. THEY IDENTIFIED THREE SCHOOLS CONNECTED TO THE OUTBREAK 57 FROM LYMAN ELEMENTARY, 55 FROM BOILING SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND ONE ATTENDED DOCTOR HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. THEY SAY STUDENTS FROM THOSE SCHOOLS COULD RETURN TO CLASS NOVEMBER 29TH. ONE OF THE MOST ALARMING DETAILS FROM THE UPSTATE WAS AN EMPLOYEE AT GSP INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND A PERSON WHO ATTENDED WAY OF TRUTH CHURCH IN INMAN CONTRACTING THE MEASLES. OFFICIALS BELIEVE BOTH EXPOSURES HAPPENED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 7TH AND THE 11TH, AND WITH THANKSGIVING AROUND THE CORNER, HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE URGING PEOPLE TO GET THE MEASLES VACCINE. THERE WILL BE ANOTHER FREE CLINIC ON MONDAY AT MOUNT MORIAH BAPTIST CHURCH IN SPARTANBURG FROM NOON TO 3 P.M. A LIVE LOOK NOW FROM OUR ICE ON MAIN CAMERA. IT IS ALMOST ICE SKATING WEATHER. LAST NIGHT WE GOT SOME RAIN AND CHIEF METEOROLOGIST CHRIS JUSTUS IS TRACKING A DROP IN TEMPERATURES. THUS, PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO GET ON THE ICE MORE OFTEN. HE JOINS US NOW WITH THE AREA’S CERTIFIED MOST ACCURATE FORECAST. CHRIS. YEAH. BY THIS TIME NEXT WEEK, THEY’LL BE ABLE TO GET OUT THERE. IT’S GOING TO BE COLD FOR THANKSGIVING AND THE DAY AFTER. AND AS WE GO THROUGH THAT WEEKEND UNTIL THEN, WE’VE GOT MILD CONDITIONS. AND LOOK AT THIS. SOME RAIN IS MOVING BACK INTO THE PICTURE. THIS WILL MAINLY FALL WHILE WE’RE SLEEPING TONIGHT AND THEN BE GONE BY TOMORROW. BE A REALLY NICE WARM DAY. WE’LL BE APPROACHING RECORD BREAKING WARMTH TOMORROW NEAR 80 DEGREES. LOOK AT THIS. WE GOT SOME SPOTTY SHOWERS TRYING TO SHOW UP ACROSS NORTHEAST GEORGIA. STILL VERY DRY AIR HERE AT THE SURFACE. SO A LOT OF THAT’S NOT REACHING THE GROUND YET, BUT IT WILL ESPECIALLY LATE THIS EVENING INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. 73 IN GREENVILLE, 64 IN ASHEVILLE AND 64 IN SPARTANBURG. AS WE LOOK AT THE WINDS ARE OUT OF THE SOUTH SOUTHWEST AT ABOUT TEN MILES PER HOUR. OVER THE NEXT 12 HOURS, LOOK FOR TEMPERATURES TO DROP DOWN TO THE LOW TO MID 60S. WE’VE GOT THAT SOUTHWEST IN PLACE, WHICH MEANS IT’S GOING TO BE REALLY WARM TOMORROW. I’LL SHOW YOU TOWN BY TOWN WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. CHRIS. THANK YOU. SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SEVERAL ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATIONS GATHERED IN COLUMBIA FOR AN UPDATE ON THE STATE’S PLAN TO ADDRESS ALZHEIMER’S AND RELATED DEMENTIAS. THEY ANNOUNCED A NEW BRAIN HEALTH TOOLKIT FOR SENIOR CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE. THIS EFFORT HIGHLIGHTS HOW SENIOR CENTERS ALREADY SUPPORT HEALTHY AGING AND HOW THEY CAN BE POWERFUL PARTNERS IN OUR STATE’S BATTLE AGAINST DEMENTIA. WE AREN’T WAITING, WATCHING, AND WORRYING. WE’RE TAKING ACTION. SOUTH CAROLINA OFFICIALS OUTLINED PROGRESS AND PROGRAMS SUCH AS DEMENTIA CARE SPECIALTY INITIATIVE, AND TOOLKITS FOR CAREGIVERS AND SENIOR CENTERS. ACCORDING TO THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION, MORE THAN 112,000 SOUTH CAROLINIANS AGED 65 AND OLDER ARE LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER’S. SOUTH CAROLINA PORTS ARE ADAPTING TO CHANGES CAUSED BY TRADE DISRUPTIONS AND THE HOLIDAY SEASON. CAITLIN ASHBAUGH CAUGHT UP WITH THE INLAND PORT IN GREER TO SEE HOW THIS IS IMPACTING THE ECONOMY AND PORT PERFORMANCE. CLOSE TO HOME, WE’RE TOLD ADAPTATION IS THE KEY IN MAKING SURE INLAND PORT GREER CONTINUES THEIR RELIABLE SERVICES INTO THE HOLIDAY MONTHS, DESPITE CHALLENGES. WHILE OCTOBER MARKED THE SOUTH CAROLINA PORT STRONGEST MONTH FOR LOADED EXPORTS SINCE JUNE, AN 18% YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE, CARGO CONTAINER NUMBERS REPORTED AT MARINE TERMINALS DIPPED. THE SLOWDOWN IS A PHENOMENON WE’RE SEEING ACROSS THE NATION, WITH CONTAINERIZED IMPORTS ACROSS THE U.S. SEEING A 7.5% YEAR OVER YEAR DECREASE IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER. TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE, THE PORTS TELL US IT’S TYPICALLY MORE POSITIVE TO SEE MORE SHIPPING CONTAINERS ON A SITE THAN AN EMPTY LOT, THE PORT TELLS US. INVESTING IN PORT DEPENDENT BUSINESSES LIKE A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR FACILITY HAPPENING IN GAFFNEY, HELPS THEM TO BALANCE THE BURDEN OF LOWER IMPORT AND VEHICLE VOLUMES. WE HELP CONNECT PORT DEPENDENT BUSINESSES TO AND FROM THE SOUTHEAST REGION TO EN TO GLOBAL MARKETS. WE SUPPORT BUSINESS EXPANSION AND WE HELP ATTRACT NEW INVESTMENT TO THE STATE. WHILE OTHER PORTS DO EXPECT IMPACTS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, TERMINAL MANAGER GERAL BRADLEY DOESN’T ANTICIPATE THE PORT TAKING A HUGE HIT. THEY CALL THEMSELVES A HEART OF THE PORTS AND A GATEWAY TO THE MIDWEST, AND AS MANY LOCAL CUSTOMERS HAVE ALREADY BOOKED THEIR NEEDED ORDERS, BRADLEY SAID. GETTING ITEMS TRANSFERRED TO THE CUSTOMER SHOULDN’T BE AN ISSUE. WE’RE TOLD, DESPITE THE DIP THAT WE’RE SEEING ACROSS THE NATION, BOTH INLAND PORT GREER AND DYLAN PERFORMED ABOVE PLAN IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER. REPORTING IN GREER, CAITLIN ASHBAUGH WYFF NEWS FOR MANY OF YOU WILL BE LOOKING FOR THOSE PERFECT PRESENTS ONLINE, BUT THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION HAS A WARNING TO BE AWARE OF THE GROWING ONLINE SCAMS THIS SEASON. IN FACT, THE FTC SAYS ONLINE SCAMS ARE IN THE TOP FIVE IN TERMS OF MONEY LOST EACH YEAR. THE NATIONAL CYBER SECURITY ALLIANCE SAYS THIEVES ARE GETTING MORE CLEVER WITH THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. THE NATIONAL CYBER SECURITY ALLIANCE SAYS THE BIGGEST RED FLAG IS THAT DEAL THAT SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, OR THE ONE THAT TELLS YOU TO ACT. NOW. SOME CLOSURE TONIGHT FOR AN UPSTATE FAMILY MORE THAN 82 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH, A WORLD WAR TWO LIEUTENANT FROM GREENVILLE HAS BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR. THIS IS U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES FIRST LIEUTENANT MORTON SHERER IN 1943. THE 22 YEAR OLD FIGHTER PILOT WAS DEPLOYED TO JAPAN DURING THE WAR. THE DEFENSE POW MIA ACCOUNTING AGENCY SAYS HE DIED A HERO WHILE INTERCEPTING AN IMPERIAL JAPANESE AIRCRAFT ON AUGUST 20TH. THEY SAY HIS AIRCRAFT REPORTEDLY CRASHED IN THE HUNAN PROVINCE, ALTHOUGH THE SITE WAS LOCATED BY U.S. FORCES. HIS REMAINS WERE NOT RECOVERED UNTIL 2024. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE AGENCY IDENTIFIED LIEUTENANT SHERER AND NOTIFIED HIS FAMILY AFTER HIS REMAINS WERE SENT TO A LABORATORY FOR SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS. OFFICIALS SAY THE GREENVILLE NATIVE WIL
Off-duty NC paramedic killed while trying to help crash victims along interstate in Florida
Updated: 11:42 PM EST Nov 21, 2025
An off-duty paramedic from North Carolina was killed after stopping to help victims of a series of crashes in Florida. The crash happened in the early morning hours of Nov. 15 along Interstate 95 in Brevard County, Florida.According to a report from our sister station WESH, a 33-year-old Port St. Lucie man was driving a 2019 Chevrolet Impala when he struck a Volkswagen. The impact sent the Volkswagen into a ditch as the Impala veered onto the inside shoulder and hit the concrete median.The driver of the Impala stepped out of his vehicle moments before two vehicles, a Hyundai Elantra and an Audi A4, approached. Both drivers reportedly swerved to avoid the wreck, but the Hyundai struck the Impala and then hit the Port St. Lucie man, throwing him into the roadway, where he was struck again by the Audi.According to state troopers, 27-year-old Mary Jolly and her wife were driving on I-95 when it happened and stopped to help.Troopers said after Jolly got out of her car, she was hit in the center lane by a Nissan Murano as both she and that driver attempted to avoid one another. She was airlifted to the hospital and died from her injuries late Monday morningOn Monday, Gaston County EMS said, “Mary was more than a colleague—she was family. Her compassion, unwavering dedication, and steady presence touched countless lives and strengthened the very fabric of our EMS community. Her loss is immeasurable and will be deeply felt across our organization and beyond.”On Thursday, the city of DeLand, Florida, and the DeLand Fire Department held a ceremony to transfer Jolly’s ashes to Gaston County EMS and her family so that she can be taken home to North Carolina.On Thursday, with the help of public safety agencies in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina Jolly was brought home and her last call was held.A spokesperson for Gaston County said, “Our hearts are broken, but Mary’s impact will continue as we carry a piece of her with us in our hearts.”
GASTON COUNTY, N.C. —
An off-duty paramedic from North Carolina was killed after stopping to help victims of a series of crashes in Florida.
The crash happened in the early morning hours of Nov. 15 along Interstate 95 in Brevard County, Florida.
According to a report from our sister station WESH, a 33-year-old Port St. Lucie man was driving a 2019 Chevrolet Impala when he struck a Volkswagen. The impact sent the Volkswagen into a ditch as the Impala veered onto the inside shoulder and hit the concrete median.
The driver of the Impala stepped out of his vehicle moments before two vehicles, a Hyundai Elantra and an Audi A4, approached. Both drivers reportedly swerved to avoid the wreck, but the Hyundai struck the Impala and then hit the Port St. Lucie man, throwing him into the roadway, where he was struck again by the Audi.
According to state troopers, 27-year-old Mary Jolly and her wife were driving on I-95 when it happened and stopped to help.
Troopers said after Jolly got out of her car, she was hit in the center lane by a Nissan Murano as both she and that driver attempted to avoid one another. She was airlifted to the hospital and died from her injuries late Monday morning
On Monday, Gaston County EMS said, “Mary was more than a colleague—she was family. Her compassion, unwavering dedication, and steady presence touched countless lives and strengthened the very fabric of our EMS community. Her loss is immeasurable and will be deeply felt across our organization and beyond.”
On Thursday, the city of DeLand, Florida, and the DeLand Fire Department held a ceremony to transfer Jolly’s ashes to Gaston County EMS and her family so that she can be taken home to North Carolina.
On Thursday, with the help of public safety agencies in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina Jolly was brought home and her last call was held.
A spokesperson for Gaston County said, “Our hearts are broken, but Mary’s impact will continue as we carry a piece of her with us in our hearts.”