Former Marine killed when car hits barrier, goes off I-85 bridge into Lake Hartwell, troopers say

A former Marine was killed Thursday when his car went off the bridge and into Lake Hartwell, the Anderson County Coroner's Office said. Two people called 911 around 1:30 a.m. and said they saw a car speeding down Interstate 85 and then crashing off the Seneca River Bridge into Lake Hartwell, officials at the scene said.Deputies found damage to a concrete barrier and debris from a car on the bridge. Officials also saw bubbles coming up in the lake near the bridge.A technical rescue team was called in to begin the search. Around 4:30 a.m. Thursday, crews found the car in 40 feet of water, according to the coroner.The coroner said Ethan Storm Painter, 26, from Georgia, was the driver and died at the scene. He had left work at Tiger Tavern, where he was a bouncer, the coroner said.

A former Marine was killed Thursday when his car went off the bridge and into Lake Hartwell, the Anderson County Coroner's Office said.

Two people called 911 around 1:30 a.m. and said they saw a car speeding down Interstate 85 and then crashing off the Seneca River Bridge into Lake Hartwell, officials at the scene said.


Deputies found damage to a concrete barrier and debris from a car on the bridge. Officials also saw bubbles coming up in the lake near the bridge.

A technical rescue team was called in to begin the search. Around 4:30 a.m. Thursday, crews found the car in 40 feet of water, according to the coroner.

The coroner said Ethan Storm Painter, 26, from Georgia, was the driver and died at the scene.

He had left work at Tiger Tavern, where he was a bouncer, the coroner said.