Pedestrian killed in Bluffton Parkway collision identified

BEAUFORT COUNTY, SC. (WTOC) - [UPDATE 3:38 p.m. 8/5/2025] The Beaufort County Coroner’s Office has released the name of the pedestrian who was killed on August 3, 2025 in a collision at Heritage Lakes Dr.

The deceased has been identified as Waldo Mercado, a 51-year-old male from Argentina.

Mercado died from blunt force injuries sustained in an automobile versus pedestrian accident. The SC Highway patrol is the investigating police agency.

Our original coverage is included below.

[ORIGINAL STORY] At around 10:34 a.m. Sunday morning a collision turned fatal on Bluffton Parkway near the intersection with Heritage Lakes Drive.

According to South Carolina Highway Patrol, four units where involved in this collision.

Unit One was an unoccupied 2014 Jeep Compass that was towing a trailer. Unit Two was a 2006 Toyota Rav4, the driver was the only person in the car and was transported by EMS. Unit Three was a pedestrian who was also transported by EMS for their injuries. Unit Four was also a pedestrian. According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the Unit Four pedestrian died on the scene.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol described the collision in detail.

They said the 2014 Jeep Compass was disabled in the eastbound land of Bluffton Parkway after their trailer came loose. Both pedestrians, which highway patrol identified as Unit Three and Unit Four were standing outside of the 2014 Jeep Compass.

According to SCHP, the 2006 Toyota Rav4 hit the trailer attached to the Jeep Compass, the trailer then hit the Jeep Compass and both pedestrians, killing one.

This collision remains under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Stick with WTOC for updates.