Vehicle runs off Greenville County highway, hits tree, killing driver, coroner says
Joseph Henry Armbruster Jr. pronounced dead at scene
Updated: 11:36 PM EDT Mar 16, 2020
Show Transcript
BREAKING NEWS, THIS IS WYFF NEWS 4 NEWS AT 11:00. >> IF EVERYONE MAKES THIS CHANGE OR THESE CRITICAL CHANGES AND SACRIFICES NOW, WE WILL RALLY TOGETHER AS ONE NATION AND WE WILL DEFEAT THE VIRUS. >> THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCING SWEEPING NEW GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS TO FOLLOW AS THE NATION DEALS WITH THE CORONAVIRUS. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I’M CAROL CLARKE. PRESIDENT TRUMP IS URGING THE TOUGHEST GUIDELINES YET. TO KEEP AMERICANS FROM SPREADING THE CORONAVIRUS. THOSE GUIDELINES IN A MOMENT BUT FIRST, THE LATEST NUMBERS ACROSS THE CAROLINAS AND GEORGIA. THE FIRST COVID-19 DEATH WAS CONFIRMED IN SOUTH CAROLINA. OFFICIALS SAY AN ELDERLY PERSO PERSON IN THE MIDLANDS DIED. THIS, AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19. THE PATIENT WAS FROM LEXINGTON COUNTY, AND LIVED AT A NURSING HOME THERE LMC EXTENDED CARE. OFFICIALS AT THE FACILITY SAY THEY ARE WORKING TO IDENTIFY ANYONE WHO CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE PATIENT. FIVE ADDITIONAL CASES OF THE VIRUS REPORTED TODAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA. OFFICIALS SAY THOSE CASES WERE IN LEXINGTON AND KERSHAW COUNTIES. TURNING TO NORTH CAROLINA, A NEW YORKER WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS IS BEING MONITORED AFTER VISITING ASHEVILLE. WE ARE TOLD THE PATIENT VISITED BUNCOMBE COUNTY TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THAT PERSON IS NOW IN ISOLATION IN MACON COUNTY. RIGHT NOW, NORTH CAROLINA HAS 33 PRESUMPTIVE AND CONFIRMED CORONAVIRUS CASES IN THE STATE. LATE TONIGHT, THE GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA CLOSING DOWN ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NOW 121 CASES OF COVID-19 THERE THERE HAS ALSO BEEN ONE DEATH. CORONAVIRUS CASES HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED IN ALMOST EVERY STATE, AND STATE OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING FOR CLEAR, CONSISTENT GUIDANCE FROM THE NATION’S LEADERS. TODAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP URGING THE TOUGHEST GUIDELINES, ALL IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP AMERICANS FROM SPREADING CORONAVIRUS. THE PRESIDENT RECOMMENDED THAT ALL AMERICANS INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE YOUNG AND HEALTHY HOMESCHOOL CHILDREN, AVOID GATHERINGS OF 10 OR MORE PEOPLE, STOP DISCRETIONARY TRAVEL, AND AVOID BARS AND RESTAURANTS. THE PRESIDENT SAYS THE COUNTRY IS BATTLING AN OUTBREAK HE SAYS COULD DRAG OUT THROUGH JULY OR AUGUST. HE WAS ASKED WHETHER OR NOT THE COUNTRY IS HEADED TOWARD A RECESSION. >> WELL, IT MAY BE, WE’RE NOT THINKING IN TERMS OF RECESSION. WE’RE THINKING IN TERMS OF THE VIRUS. I THINK THERE’S A TREMENDOUS PENT UP DEMAND BOTH IN TERMS OF THE STOCK MARKET AND IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMY AND ONCE THIS GOES AWAY, ONCE IT GOES THROUGH AND WE’RE DONE WITH IT, I THINK YOU’RE GOING TO SEE A TREMENDOUS, A TREMENDOUS SURGE. CAROL: CONGRESS IS STILL LOOKING TO PASS A MULTI BILLION DOLLAR EMERGENCY BILL THAT WOULD PROVIDE FREE TESTING EXPAND FOOD ASSISTANCE AND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND SOME PAID LEAVE. WALL STREET WENT INTO A NEW TAILSPIN TODAY. THE DAY STARTED WITH A MARKET FREE FALL. STOCKS PLUNGED. THE DOW DROPPING NEARLY 3,000 POINTS, THE WORST POINT DROP IN HISTORY. AN UPSTATE FINANCIAL ADVISOR IS TELLING HIS CLIENTS TO REMAIN CALM. >> RIGHT NOW, WE ARE TELLING OUR CLIENTS THAT THEY HAVE A FINANCIAL PLAN AND THESE PLANS ARE BUILT WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT THERE WILL BE GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES. OUR COUNTRY HAS WITHSTOOD NUMEROUS CRISES, EVEN THOUGH EACH ONE IS DIFFERENT AND BELIEVE ME, THIS ONE IS DIFFERENT, REMAIN CALM AND PRACTICE PRUDENT INVESTMENT PRINCIPALS THAT HAVE STOOD THE TEST OF TIME. CAROL: INVESTORS HAVE ALREADY PRETTY MUCH PRICED U.S. STOCKS AS IF THE ECONOMY IS HEADED FOR A RECESSION BASED ON A HISTORY OF PAST DECLINES. RIGHT NOW, TESTING FOR AN EXPERIMENTAL CORONAVIRUS VACCINE IS OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY IN THE U.S. THE PHASE 1 CLINICAL TRIAL GOT UNDERWAY AT THE KAISER PERMANENTE WASHINGTON HEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN SEATTLE. THE TRIAL INVOLVES A TOTAL OF 45 VOLUNTEERS. THEY WILL BE GIVEN TWO DOSES OF THE POTENTIAL VACCINE CALLED MRNA1273. THE FIRST DOSE WAS ADMINISTRATED TO THE FIRST PERSON TODAY. EVEN IF THE TRIAL GOES WELL, EXPERTS SAY A VACCINE WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR WIDESPREAD USE PROBABLY FOR AT LEAST A YEAR. LET’S TAKE A QUICK BREAK FROM OUR CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE, RAIN MAY POP UP TONIGHT IN SOME AREAS. CHIEF METEOROLOGIST CHRIS JUSTUS JOIN US. CHRIS. >> WE ARE WATCHING ACTIVITY TO THE WEST MOVING OUR WAY. I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. ALL THIS ACTIVITY STRETCHES TOWARD NORTHERN ALABAMA, NORTHERN GEORGIA AND THIS WILL MOVE IN BETWEEN AND 5:00 A.M. SCATTERED RAIN SHOWERS LEFT OVER IN THE MORNING HOURS WHICH WE WILL TRACK ON LIVE SUPER DOPPLER BUT SPOTTY SPRINKLES AND MORE STEADY RAIN IN THE MOUNTAINS. ALONG I-95, FROM GREENVILLE TO PARTS OF SIMPSONVILLE AND MALDEN. TOWARD THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN CAROLINA, ROBBINSVILLE. 46 IN ASHEVILLE, 52 GREENVILLE. OVER THE NEXT 12 HOURS, RAIN OVERNIGHT. IF 70% CHANCE AT 3:00 A.M. AND IT GOES DOWN. TOMORROW, CLOUDS IN PLACE AND TEMPERATURES WARMING INTO THE 60’S COMPARED TO THE 50’S TODAY. WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THE WEATHER IN A FEW MINUTES. CAROL: BREAKING NEWS OUT OF SIMPSONVILLE. A MAN LOST HIS LIFE TODAY IN A SINGLE CAR CRASH. THE CORONER HAS IDENTIFIED HIM AS JOSEPH HENRY ARMBRUSTER, JR. OF SIMPSONVILLE. HE SAYS THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON SC HIGHWAY 14 NEAR POLLARD ROAD JUST BEFORE 12:3 THE CORONER SAYS THE 64-YEAR-OLD’S CAR VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND STRUCK A TREE. HE SAYS ARMBRUSTER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT AT THE TIME. BACK TO CORONAVIRUS NEWS. SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEK TONIGHT, GREENVILLE COUNTY SCHOOLS ANNOUNCED NEW DETAILS ON HOW IT PLANS TO KEEP STUDENTS FROM GOING HUNGRY. THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN GRANTED PERMISSION TO PROVIDE TWO FREE MEALS AT ONE TIME LUNCH AND THE NEXT DAY’S BREAKFAST. OFFICIALS SAY THIS WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR MULTIPLE PICKUP TIMES EACH DAY. THE COUNTY DESIGNATED 15 SCHOOLS FOR THE DRIVE-THROUGH MEAL PROGRAM. MONDAY NIGHT OFFICIALS RELEASED A LIST OF 45 SITES AROUND THE COUNTY WHERE MEALS WILL BE DELIVERED TO CHILDREN. THIS WILL CONTINUE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY UNTIL SCHOOLS REOPEN. YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM AT WYFF4.COM. STAFF MEMBERS AT GREENVILLE COUNTY MEALS ON WHEELS ARE WORKING OVERTIME KEEPING THEIR CLIENTS FED, AND CARED FOR IN THIS TIME OF UNCERTAINTY. AS WYFF NEWS 4’S JOHN LYON REPORTS, WORKERS ARE DOING DOUBLE DUTY, AND STARTING NEW SAFETY PROCEDURES FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR VOLUNTEERS. 4112 MEALS. JOHN: THE STAFF AT MEALS ON WHEELS SPENT TODAY PACKING MEALS THEMSELVES TO KEEP THE PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON THEM FOR FOOD FED FOR THE WEEK. >> SOME OF OUR CLIENTS HAVE LITTLE ON NO SUPPORT SYSTEM SO THEY DEPEND ON MEALS ON WHEE AND WE TAKE THEIR SAFETY THEIR WELL-BEING, THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE IS VERY IMPORTANT. JOHN: THIS WEEK, WORKERS ARE PREPARING EXTRA MEALS FOR THE HOMEBOUND. SOME DISHES WILL BE FLASH FROZEN, OTHERS WILL BE READY TO EAT. >> WE FOUND THAT MANY CLIENTS WERE CALLING IN AND WERE NERVOUS IF WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THEM SO WE HOPE THIS WILL RELIEVE SOME OF THE ANXIETY THAT SOME OF THEM ARE FACING. JOHN: IN THE DAYS OF THE CORONAVIRUS, MEALS ON WHEELS ARE TAKING EXTRA SAFETY STEPS, AND IT STARTS WITH VOLUNTEERS PICKING UP THESE MEALS. >> WE’RE HAVING A DRIVE-THROUGH PICKUP SERVICE FOR ANYONE PICKING MEALS AT MEALS ON WHEELS. WE COULD HAVE 150 VOLUNTEERS COME THROUGH OUR DOORS SO WE WANT TO REDUCE THE POINT OF CONTACT SO WE HAVE SET UP A SYSTEM WHERE PEOPLE WILL DRIVE THROUGH AND GET THEIR MEALS SO THEY ARE NOT ENTERING THE BUILDING. JOHN: THOSE VOLUNTEERS WILL ALSO KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE. >> WE ARE GOING TO ASK T VOLUNTEERS TO TAKE THE MEAL, BUT DRINK, AND HANG IT ON THE DOOR OF THE CLIENT, KNOCK ON THE DOOR, TAKE AT LEAST 6 STEPS BACK AND MAKE SURE THE CLIENT OPENS THE DOOR AND GETS THE MEAL. JOHN: AND THOSE 4100 PLUS MEALS WILL START GOING OUT TO CLIENTS ABOUT 10:00 IN THE MORNING. JOHN LYON, WYFF NEWS 4, GREENVILLE. CAROL: A GREENVILLE WOMAN SAYS SHE’S HAD TO JUMP OVER HURDLES TO GET TESTED FOR THE CORONAVIRUS. CHARLENE SHANKS SAYS ON THE WAY TO WORK, SHE STARTED FEELING BODY ACHES AND NAUSEA. SHE TURNED AROUND AND HEADED STRAIGHT TO HER DOCTOR’S OFFICE. THEY DO RECOMMEND YOU CALL FIRST. CHARLENE SAYS HER NURSE PRACTITIONERS WROTE AN ORDER TO GO TO PRISMA TO BE TESTED. SHE WENT TO THE HEALTH SYSTEM’S DRIVE-THROUGH TESTING SET UP AT GREENVILLE MEMORIAL. CHARLENE SAYS THEY REFUSED TO TAKE HER PAPERWORK. SHE SAYS HER DOCTOR COULDN’T SEND IT ELECTRONICALLY. PRISMA HEALTH TOLD HER TO COME BACK THIS AFTERNOON. IT WAS ONLY AFTER THE SECOND TIME SHE WENT TO PRISMA DID SHE GET TESTED. THE HOSPITAL SAYS ITS TRYING TO KEEP STAFF AWAY FROM PAPER ORDERS AND DOESN’T WANT ANYONE TO COME WITH ONE. >> WE’RE TRYING TO VOID THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION OR MATERIAL BETWEEN OUR CAREGIVERS AND THE PATIENTS SO WE’RE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO GIVE THE PATIENTS MORE ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC MEDIA. CAROL: IF YOU WANT TO GET TESTED, PRISMA HEALTH WANTS YOU TO DO SO THROUGH ITS VIRTUAL ORDER PLATFORM THEY SAY FIRST YOU NEED A DOCTOR’S RECOMMENDATION, SIGN UP IN THE ONLINE SYSTEM SHOULDN’T TAKE MORE THAN TEN MINUTES. MEANWHILE TONIGHT CHARLENE REMAINS IN A SELF-IMPOSTED QUARANTINE. AND IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE VIRUS AND NEED TO VISIT A DOCTOR, OFFICIALS SAY, A VIRTUAL TELE-HEALTH APPOINTMENT MAY BE THE BEST ANSWER. THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, MUSC IS OFFERING A FREE TOOL TO GET CHECKED. JUST GO TO WWW.MUSC.CARE AND ENTER THE CODE COVID-19. THERE YOU CAN ALSO GET A FREE ONLINE MEDICAL SCREENING WITH A DOCTOR. AND A REMINDER IF YOU HAVE GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VIRUS IN SOUTH CAROLINA, YOU CAN CALL THE DHEC CARE LINE. THAT NUMBER IS ON YOUR SCREEN. IT’S 855-472-3432 IT’S OPEN EVERY WEEKDAY FROM 6:00 IN THE EVENING. THE SITUATION WITH THE CORONAVIRUS IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND THAT’S WHY AN UPSTATE PSYCHOLOGIST IS RECOMMENDING FOLKS TO FIND A NEW SENSE OF NORMALCY. DR. BRITTANY RUDY WITH SYNERGY PSYCH SAYS SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND EVENT CANCELLATIONS ARE MAKING THINGS DIFFICULT FOR SOME PEOPLE, BUT SHE SAYS PERSPECTIVE CAN HELP. RUDY SAYS YOU CAN VIEW THESE CHANGES AS A WAY TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH FAMILY, OR A CHANCE TO SPEND MORE LEISURE TIME AT HOME. RUDY SAYS IT’S GOOD TO CREATE A NEW SENSE OF ROUTINE WHILE KEEPING THE PRECAUTIONS FOR THE CORONAVIRUS IN MIND. >> STAY UPDATED, BUT THAT CAN’T BE THE ONLY THING YOU ARE FOCUSING ON OR THE ONLY THING YOU ARE THINKING CURVE. IN ORDER TO RETURN TO NORMAL CONVERSATION WITH LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS. CAROL: RUDY ALSO ENCOURAGES STAYING ACTIVE IN SAFE WAYS LIKE WALKING BY YOURSELF. AS FEWER PEOPLE MOVE AROUND, THERE’S LESS DEMAND FOR RIDE SHARING LIKE UBER AND LYFT. AND IT’S CREATING A NEW NORMAL FOR MANY DRIVERS IN THE GIG ECONOMY. MADELEINE HACKETT HAS MORE. MATALIN: — >> I DO UBER AND LYFT FULL TIME SO I RELY ON THE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAVELING IN AND OUT. REPORTER: FOR BENJAMIN PUENTE, THE JOB NOW STARTS BEFORE TAKING THE FIRST CALL. >> I USUALLY HAVE A CLEANING ROUTINE EVERY DAY. IT DOESN’T TAKE A LOT. YOU JUST SPRAY A LITTLE BIT. WIPE EVERYTHING DOWN WITH THE WIPES. EVERYTHING THAT SOMEONE WOULD TOUCH, SO — ESPECIALLY ME. I’VE GOT A FAMILY AT HOME. I’VE GOT MY MOM. REPORTER: HE PICKS HIS PASSENGERS UP, OFTEN STRAIGHT FROM THE AIRPORT. CARRYING 15 TO 20 PEOPLE A DAY, THEIR LUGGAGE, AND THEIR GERMS. BUT BENEATH THE CHLOROXED SURFACE OF HIS NISSAN SENTRA A BIGGER CONCERN. >> I WENT FROM MAKING ABOUT $800 A WEEK WITH LYFT AND HUBER COMBINED TO MAKING ROUGHLY $450. REPORTER: NOW WITH LESS PEOPLE TRAVELING, AND SOCIAL DISTANCING IN FULL FORCE, THE DEMAND FOR RIDES ARE DWINDLING. AND FOR EMPLOYEES IN THE GIG ECONOMY, LESS WORK EQUALS LESS PAY. BUT FOR DRIVER’S LIKE BEN THERE IS ONE THINGS THAT’S TAKING THE STING OUT OF HIS WALLET, LESS PAIN AT THE PUMP. >> THE LOWER GAS PRICES HELP A LITTLE BIT, YEAH, BECAUSE I FILLED UP FOR MAYBE $18 THE OTHER DAY, SO THAT WASN’T TOO BAD. REPORTER: MADELEINE HACKETT, WYFF NEWS 4 IN GREENVILLE. CAROL: HAPPENING THIS WEEK, OUR NATIONAL INVESTIGATIVE UNIT WILL BE ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS. IT WILL HAPPEN LIVE AT 1:00 WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON ON THE WYFF 4 FACEBOOK PAGE. IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, SEND AN E-MAIL TO THE ADDRESS ON Y
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Vehicle runs off Greenville County highway, hits tree, killing driver, coroner says
Joseph Henry Armbruster Jr. pronounced dead at scene
Updated: 11:36 PM EDT Mar 16, 2020
(Above video is coronavirus headlines for Monday from WYFF News 4 at 5.)A Simpsonville man was killed Monday in a crash on Highway 14, according to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.Coroner Kent Dill said the crash was reported just before 12:30 p.m. on Highway 14 near Pollard Road.Joseph Henry Armbruster Jr., 64, was pronounced dead at the scene, Dill said.Armbruster’s vehicle went off the left side of the road and hit a tree, Dill said.Armbruster was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, according to Dill.
(Above video is coronavirus headlines for Monday from WYFF News 4 at 5.)
A Simpsonville man was killed Monday in a crash on Highway 14, according to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.
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Coroner Kent Dill said the crash was reported just before 12:30 p.m. on Highway 14 near Pollard Road.
Joseph Henry Armbruster Jr., 64, was pronounced dead at the scene, Dill said.
Armbruster’s vehicle went off the left side of the road and hit a tree, Dill said.
Armbruster was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, according to Dill.
