The Voice contestant Dylan Carter was killed when he lost control of his brand-new Tesla on a remote highway.
Carter, 24, ran his 2026 Tesla sedan off the road and hit both a utility pole and a fence before flipping the car, local police told the Daily Mail.
South Carolina Highway Patrol corporal Nick Pye said Carter was driving south on US-21, known locally as Lowcountry Highway, on Saturday night.
The country music singer veered to the right as he entered the small town of Smoaks about 11.22pm and jumped the curb, then hit the pole and fence.
Carter was found inside the car by emergency services and rushed to hospital ‘where he later succumbed to his injuries’, Pye said.
SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash and the Colleton County Coroner will conduct an autopsy this week.
The Tesla, which ranges in price from $50,000 to $100,000, is not believed to have burst into flames after the crash, unlike many other wrecks of Elon Musk’s car brand.
Carter was to perform at the ‘Music on Main’ festival in Moncks Corner’s, South Carolina, on Monday night. The event was later canceled.
Dylan Carter – who gained recognition as a contestant on season 24 of The Voice in 2023 – has died at age 24 after a car accident in South Carolina
Carter was mourned by friends and local officials as news of his death spread
Carter was mourned by friends and local officials as news of his death spread.
Thomas Hamilton Jr, mayor of Moncks Corner, where Carter was from, posted on Facebook: ‘Our family is heartbroken to hear about the passing of Dylan Carter in a car accident.
‘As a gifted singer, he frequently entertained our community with his performances at town events.
‘His kindness and charm earned him immense respect, and his absence will be deeply felt.
‘He was much more to our family than an entertainer, he was our friend and we are deeply saddened.’
The Local Voice, a non-profit Carter co-founded that provides care to women fighting breast cancer, also confirmed his death.
‘Dylan was the heart of what we do. He believed every voice matters and lived that every day. Through his music, his kindness, and his smile, he brought people together and made everyone feel seen,’ it said.
‘A proud Lowcountry native, Dylan also owned Sunny Days RV & Campground and worked as a realtor, always helping others find a place to belong.’
Carter had a very memorable debut on television as his blind audition earned him four chair turns from judges Reba McEntire, Niall Horan, John Legend and Gwen Stefani
Carter in an Instagram video posted in November
Speaking with the Daily Mail, a spokesperson for The Local Voice said that he ‘used his voice as a way to reach people and give back’ and had a ‘genuine heart for helping others and bringing people together,’ which is ‘what he was most proud of.’
He also had plans on being part of upcoming charity events. The Local Voice will continue to ‘honor and carry his mission forward.’
The rep added: ‘His family and friends are grieving this unimaginable loss, and we ask for continued prayers and respect for their privacy. We find comfort knowing he is in Heaven hugging his Mama.’
Carter’s mother Julie died in 2022, a year before he appeared as a contestant on the 24th season of The Voice.
The singer was just 20 when he auditioned for The Voice.
He had a very memorable debut on television as his blind audition earned him four chair turns from judges Reba McEntire, Niall Horan, John Legend and Gwen Stefani.
On the singing reality show, he sang Whitney Houston’s classic I Look to You, which he later explained was a tribute to his late mother.
Carter had also shared that he attempted to sing the song during his mother’s funeral but was too overcome with emotion to finish it.
On the singing reality show, he sang Whitney Houston’s classic I Look to You
On the program, McEntire fought back tears as she told him: ‘So much emotion, and I saw it and I felt it when you were singing’
On the program, McEntire fought back tears as she told him: ‘So much emotion, and I saw it and I felt it when you were singing.
‘That’s the kind of songs that do that to me too, because I saw you get so emotionally involved, and that’s when you know you’ve got a great song and a great singer: when it touches your heart.
‘To me, as a performer, that’s when you really hone in on why you’re part on this Earth, when you touch people’s hearts, and you did.’
Carter selected McEntire as his mentor.
He explained at the time: ‘Something told me to go with Reba. She could be a comforting mom figure for me.’
His run on the singing competition show ended weeks later in the Battle Rounds in an episode that aired on October 31, 2023.
Carter did not let the elimination derail his music career, as he continued performing in the Lowcountry, including benefit events for The Local Voice.
