The communities of Spartanburg County and Greenville are mourning a devastating early-morning crash that claimed five lives and left another officer critically injured. The head-on collision on Highway 101 near the Bellview Road extension has left families shattered and law enforcement agencies across the region in deep grief.
According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the crash occurred around 12:45 a.m. Friday when a 2025 Ford SUV traveling northbound and a 2016 Toyota SUV traveling southbound collided head-on. Investigators say the impact was severe, causing catastrophic damage to both vehicles and triggering an immediate emergency response from multiple agencies.
Authorities confirmed that Ashley Munoz, an 11-year veteran of the Greenville Police Department, was killed in the crash. Her wife, Sgt. Diana Munoz, also a veteran officer of the department, was airlifted to a nearby hospital and remains in critical condition. Officials said the couple was returning home from vacation at the time of the crash and leave behind two young children.
In the Ford SUV, authorities identified the victims as 50-year-old Deborah Sue Wyatt and 46-year-old Max Douglas Wyatt Jr., both from Duncan. Officials said Deborah Wyatt died at the scene, while Max Wyatt later succumbed to his injuries at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. The loss has added further heartbreak to an already devastating incident.
The Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Sgt. Ashley Munoz, 35, of Woodruff, was among the victims in the Toyota SUV. The identities of the remaining two people in that vehicle have not yet been released, as officials continue working to notify families and complete their investigation.
As the crash remains under active investigation, a memorial honoring Sgt. Munoz has been established at the City of Greenville Public Safety Campus. Colleagues, residents, and fellow officers have been gathering there to pay their respects, leaving behind flowers, notes, and messages of support. In the midst of profound grief, the community continues to rally around the Munoz family and all those affected by the tragedy, remembering five lives lost far too soon.
