Branchville, South Carolina, is mourning the sudden death of 23-year-old Brianna Wiles, who died in a car crash on US-15 south of Saint George on the morning of October 26, 2025.
Brianna wasn’t alone in the wreck. Her close friend, Samuel Dantzler, just 20 years old from Harleyville, was behind the wheel of a southbound Chevrolet truck.
Around 1 a.m., something went terribly wrong. The vehicle veered off the right side of the road and crashed head-on into a tree with brutal force.
Emergency crews arrived at a heartbreaking scene: Samuel had already passed away at the site, while Brianna, a passenger from Round O, fought for her life.
She was rushed to Trident Medical Center in Summerville, but hours later, surrounded by those who loved her most, she slipped away from the injuries that proved too severe.
No other vehicles were involved, and investigators from the South Carolina Highway Patrol are still piecing together the why, looking closely at factors like speed, road conditions, and possible driver fatigue after a long night.
For now, the only certainty is the unimaginable pain rippling through two families and a town that feels a little dimmer without them.
Brianna, Known to Everyone as Bri, was the Kind of Person who Made Life Brighter Just by being in it
Born to proud parents, Melissa Pinckney and Chad Wiles, she grew up in a close-knit home filled with love and laughter.
Her dad, Chad, had poured his heart into building their family’s new house almost single-handedly, a project Brianna often talked about with beaming pride.
She shared that world with two brothers, Zachary and Jason, both talented athletes themselve,s who looked up to their big sister.
From fishing trips where she’d out-catch anyone (earning her the playful title of “fish master” among friends) to quiet family dinners, Brianna cherished those simple bonds.
Her soft-spoken voice, kind heart, and that contagious smile? They were her superpowers, drawing people in and making them feel truly seen.
Sports were Brianna’s passion, a stage where her energy truly shone. At Branchville High School, she was a standout on the varsity Lady Yellow Jackets.
In basketball, she rocked jersey number 21 as a forward-center, bringing grit and grace to every game.
But it was volleyball where she really left her mark, wearing number 15 as an outside hitter, she dominated the court with fierce determination.
Back in 2022, during a key region title win, Brianna led the team with an incredible 35 kills and three aces, helping secure the victory that had the whole gym roaring.
She also played as a middle hitter and defensive specialist, her versatility making her a coach’s dream and a teammate’s rock.
Graduating in 2023, Brianna carried that team spirit into adulthood, always cheering on her former squad from the sidelines.
The News of her Passing Hit the Volleyball Community Especially Hard
Just days later, as the Lady Yellow Jackets headed into the second round of playoffs, coach Brianna Kelsey Kinard shared a touching tribute on Facebook. She wrote-:
It was a small gesture, but one that captured the love pouring out for her, a way to keep her fire alive on the court she once owned.
Tributes on Social Media and at the Branchville Diner Reveal More About who Brianna was
Teresa Looper, who knew her well, poured her heart out online:
“Life seems so unfair at times! My heart is just crushed. Brianna Wiles was truly beautiful from the inside out. Today’s news seems just so unreal!! I miss her sweet voice, her kind heart, and her contagious smile!! To know Bri, was to LOVE her! I can’t even imagine the pain her mother, father, siblings, family are going thru. Please lift up extra prayers tonight for the Wiles family, as well as the young man, Sam Dantzler’s family. Bri was a special young lady who definitely made everyone else feel special! She was soft spoken, smart, beautiful, loved everyone, and a pure joy to be around. And, this gal could fish. (Lol) Bri, the fish master. Bri was so proud of her Daddy. She talked about how he had built their beautiful new home nearly by himself and how proud she was of him and excited about their new home. She LOVED her family! We love you endlessly Bri! You are missed beyond words.”
Via Facebook
Mike Kennedy echoed that sentiment in his own raw words:
Oh Bri, how you will be missed. I don’t even know where to begin. You were just as beautiful on the inside as you were on the outside which is not something that can be said honestly about most. I could always count on you to be my BIGGEST hype man, and brighten even my worst days. You had an energy and happiness that lit up even the darkest rooms. Truly unlike any other that I’ve met. When I think of you, all I see is that beautiful smile, a laugh so contagious that you couldnt help but smile, and a personality so bubbly that you couldn’t help but love you for it. You carried around a love and kindness so pure that it is undeniable. We weren’t close for long, but still you made such an irreversible impact on my life. The memories I have with you, I will cherish for a lifetime. In the moment, I had no clue that I was getting the opportunity to spend your last minutes with you. But now, I am so thankful for that opportunity. RIP bby You and Sam are loved by so many, and will be missed indefinitely. You both are irreplaceable souls and your missing presence is felt deeply by all of us down here. Give em hell up there guys.”
Via Facebook
Friends like Kewone Lopez remembered the easy joy of their time together:
“Ima miss you Brianna Wiles from kids in school to adults we always kept the same bond. You was a real friend I would never think last night would be the last time we would laugh, joke and all hangout together while we talk about the old days. Condolences to both families Sam Dantzler was a fellow Volvo employee like myself and was a great guy.”
Via Facebook
Even as the pain lingers, Branchville is suffering in ways that honor Brianna’s generous spirit.
A donut sale fundraiser has sprung up, with proceeds going to help cover funeral costs and support the families, proof of how deeply she touched lives.
Samuel’s family, too, is in everyone’s thoughts; he worked at the Volvo plant alongside folks like Kewone, known for his steady kindness and quick laugh.
Brianna Wiles was only 23, but she lived with a fullness that belies her years.
She was a daughter who adored her parents, a sister who inspired her brothers, a teammate who lifted her squad to victory, and a friend whose light refused to fade.
In a world that can feel too fast and too fragile, her story reminds us to hold our people a little closer. Rest easy, Bri.
Your smile echoes on in the cheers of a pink-clad crowd, the quiet casts of a fishing line, and the unbreakable bonds you left behind.
The prayers for Melissa, Chad, Zachary, Jason, and all who loved you are endless. Branchville and the world is a little less bright, but forever changed for the better because of you.
