SALUDA, S.C. — The tight-knit community of Saluda is grieving after a tragic two-vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 178 near Prater Road claimed the life of 76-year-old Shirley Fincher on Monday morning, October 27, 2025. The devastating crash has left family, friends, and neighbors heartbroken as they mourn the loss of a woman remembered for her warmth, kindness, and deep love for her community.
According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the fatal crash occurred around 11:15 a.m. when Fincher’s vehicle collided with another car traveling in the opposite direction. Preliminary reports indicate that one of the vehicles may have crossed the centerline, resulting in a violent impact that caused extensive damage to both cars.
Emergency responders from Saluda County EMS, Saluda Fire Department, and SCHP troopers arrived at the scene within minutes. Despite their best efforts to render aid, Fincher was pronounced dead at the scene due to the severity of her injuries. The driver of the second vehicle was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Saluda County Coroner’s Office are continuing to investigate the circumstances leading up to the crash. Officials are working to determine whether weather conditions, speed, or any other factors played a role in the collision.
As news of the tragedy spread through Saluda, the community has come together to honor Shirley’s memory. Those who knew her described her as a gentle, caring woman who always greeted others with a smile and a kind word.
“Miss Shirley was one of the sweetest people you could ever meet,” said a longtime neighbor. “She loved her family, her church, and her town. She was the type of person who would do anything for anyone.”
Family members shared that Shirley had deep roots in Saluda, where she spent her entire life raising her children and giving back to her community. She was active in her local church and known for her generosity — whether volunteering at community events or helping those in need.
“She was a mother to so many beyond her own family,” her niece shared tearfully. “Her heart was pure gold. Losing her this way is something we’ll never get over.”
Community leaders also expressed their condolences, calling the loss a tragedy that has touched everyone in Saluda. “When someone like Mrs. Fincher passes, it leaves a hole in the heart of this town,” one official said. “She embodied what it meant to be a neighbor and a friend.”
A makeshift memorial of flowers and candles has appeared near the crash site along Highway 178, where loved ones have gathered to pray, share memories, and honor the life of a woman whose kindness touched countless lives.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days, as family members continue to process their grief and lean on the support of their community.
As investigators work to piece together what happened on that tragic Monday morning, one thing is clear: Saluda has lost one of its most cherished souls.
Through their sorrow, friends and family vow to keep Shirley Fincher’s memory alive — remembering her not for the tragedy that claimed her life, but for the love, laughter, and light she shared with everyone who knew her.
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