Victim in Fatal Hit-and-Run in Myrtle Beach Identified as 26-Year-Old Dezhon Overton of Kansas City
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — The victim in Sunday morning’s fatal hit-and-run in Myrtle Beach has been identified as 26-year-old Dezhon Overton, a Kansas City native whose sudden and tragic death has left both local residents and loved ones hundreds of miles away grappling with shock and grief.
According to the Myrtle Beach Police Department, officers were dispatched around 2:45 a.m. on Sunday, August 3, to the intersection of Kings Highway and 21st Avenue North following reports of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. When first responders arrived on the scene, they discovered Overton lying unresponsive in the roadway, suffering from severe injuries consistent with a high-speed collision.
Despite life-saving efforts from emergency personnel, Overton was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver involved in the incident did not remain at the scene, prompting an immediate and ongoing hit-and-run investigation. Police have not yet released a description of the suspect vehicle but confirmed that surveillance footage from nearby businesses and traffic cameras is being reviewed to identify the driver responsible.
“We are actively pursuing leads in this case,” said MBPD Public Information Officer Melissa Carter. “This is a tragic and senseless death, and we are committed to holding the person responsible accountable. Leaving the scene of a fatal crash is not only illegal—it’s inhumane.”
Dezhon Overton, who had traveled to Myrtle Beach for a weekend getaway with friends, was remembered Monday by family members as a kind, energetic, and generous young man with a heart full of ambition. A graduate of Central High School in Kansas City, Overton had recently completed training in HVAC repair and was preparing to start a new job this fall.
“He had so many dreams,” said his older sister, Tamika Overton. “Dezhon was funny, smart, and so full of life. He was the kind of person who would give you the shirt off his back. I still can’t believe he’s gone.”
Friends and family have begun organizing a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral arrangements and transport of Overton’s body back to Kansas City. Support has poured in from both Myrtle Beach locals and Kansas City residents who didn’t know him personally but were moved by the senseless nature of his death.
The Myrtle Beach Police Department is urging the driver to come forward and is appealing to the public for assistance. “Someone out there knows something,” said Officer Carter. “If you saw a vehicle driving erratically, leaving the area, or with noticeable front-end damage early Sunday morning, we need you to say something.”
Authorities believe the vehicle may have sustained significant damage to its front bumper or windshield and may have fled in the direction of Highway 501 or out of the city limits shortly after the incident.
The tragic loss of Dezhon Overton has also reignited broader conversations around pedestrian safety in Myrtle Beach—especially during the high-traffic summer season when tourists, nightlife, and late-night foot traffic converge. Local leaders are now calling for renewed efforts to improve crosswalk safety, street lighting, and law enforcement visibility during overnight hours.
“We owe it to Dezhon and others like him to take pedestrian safety seriously,” said Myrtle Beach City Councilmember Olivia Jennings. “Every year, we see lives lost on these roads—many due to reckless drivers who flee responsibility. That has to stop.”
In the days ahead, a candlelight vigil is being planned in Myrtle Beach near the site of the crash to honor Dezhon’s life and memory. His family, though devastated, hopes the person responsible will come forward and that justice will be served.
“He was more than just a victim,” said Tamika. “He was a son, a brother, a friend. His life mattered.”
Anyone with information related to the hit-and-run is urged to contact the Myrtle Beach Police Department at (843) 918-1382 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry at 1-888-CRIME-SC.
As the investigation continues, one family’s vacation has turned into a heartbreaking nightmare—and a young life, full of potential, has been cut far too short.
