Two women killed in head-on collision identified as 19-year-old South Carolina National Guard soldiers

Two South Carolina Army National Guard soldiers have been identified as victims of a deadly crash in Union.

Authorities identified 19-year-old Spc. Kristal Lopez and Spc. Carol Santiago-Santiago as deceased on Tuesday.

The crash occurred on March 16 around 4:10 p.m. on Jonesville Lockhart Highway or Highway 9.

Lopez was driving a sedan with Santiago as a passenger when they collided with a pickup truck.

Santiago, of Lancaster, died at the scene.

Sp. Carol Santiago-Santiago, 19, was rushed to hospital, where she died a week later

The crash occurred on March 16 around 4:10 p.m. on Jonesville Lockhart Highway or Highway 9

Lopez, who was rushed to the hospital, died a week later on March 23 at Spartanburg Regional.

The accident is being investigated by local police.

According to the National Guard, Santiago was a human resources specialist assigned to the 228th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade.

She had recently received the Army Service Ribbon for completing initial entry training.

Lopez, also from Lancaster, was a legal specialist assigned to the 228th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade.

“The South Carolina National Guard is in mourning today,” the National Guard said in a statement.

“We lost not one but two of our family members with Spc. The death of Kristal Lopez.

“There is no way to reconcile such a loss,” it said.

Adding, “Please keep the Lopez and Santiago families in your thoughts and prayers.” said Major General Van McCarty, Adjutant General, South Carolina.”