Lexington Police Chief Terrence Green has provided additional information in regard to a fatal collision that occurred Monday morning in the 100 block of Industrial Drive in Lexington. The crash involved a school bus, van, and motorcycle.

At approximately 7:14 a.m., officers were dispatched to a three-vehicle collision and found that a
van had struck a motorcycle and a Lexington County School District One school bus that had
stopped to pick up bus-riding students.

During the investigation, it was found that when the school bus slowed to a stop with a motorcycle stopping behind it, the van driver did not appear to see the stopped vehicles and collided first with the motorcycle, sending the driver into the back of the bus and pushing the motorcycle a distance away from the scene. The van then collided with the back of the bus, pinning the motorcycle driver between the van and the bus.

There were seven students and a driver on the bus. One student was injured with a cut on his arm, and he was transported by EMS to the hospital. All other students were reunified with parents and guardians away from the collision scene. The driver of the van was injured and transported by EMS to the hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the motorcycle died at the crash scene, and his identity has not been released yet by the Lexington County Coroner’s Office.

The van driver was determined to be at fault for the collision and has been identified as Giovanni Mendoza Jimenez, age 20 of West Columbia. He has been charged with Driving without a Driver’s License with additional charges pending. He is currently being held at the Lexington County Detention Center.

Thanks to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Lexington County Coroner’s Office, South Carolina Highway Patrol, State Law Enforcement Division, and the Town of Lexington Transportation Department for their assistance in this incident and investigation.