Richland County Coroner Gary Watts has released the name of the individual who died as a result of a motorcycle crash.  It occurred at approximately 9:20 p.m. Thursday night on South Beltline Boulevard, Columbia.

William James Culpepper, 28, of North Point Road, Lexington, was the driver of a motorcycle that left the road and went down an embankment.  Culpepper was not wearing a helmet at the time of the incident.  He was transported from the scene by Richland County EMS to Palmetto Health Richland Memorial Hospital where he died at 10:08 p.m.  An autopsy indicated that the cause of death was due to blunt force injuries.

The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the incident.