FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 5, 2000
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755
FATALITY REPORT: DPS REPORTS EIGHTEEN KILLED
ON SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAYS JUNE 30-JULY 4
COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces a preliminary number of 18 people killed on South Carolina highways from Friday, June 30, at 6 p.m. through midnight Tuesday, July 4.
The July 4 holiday period ran for 102 hours. The last comparable time period was in 1996 when 15 people died over that holiday weekend.
Of the 18 people who died during this period, only five were wearing seat belts. Nine fatal collisions involved vehicles rolling over. Four fatalities involved vehicles striking a tree. Two people riding motorcycles and one riding a bicycle were killed. One person was killed when her car ran off the road and another was killed when her car was hit from the side.
So far this year, 553 have died on South Carolina highways compared to 510 this time last year.
The Highway Patrol investigated more than 775 crashes, made 281 DUI arrests, issued 6,263 seatbelt citations, and 632 child restraint citations. The Highway Patrol assisted 3,024 motorists.
| Interstates | 5 |
| US routes, SC routes and secondary roads | 13 |
| Seat belts used | 5 |
| Seat belts not used | 10 |
| Seat belt usage unknown | 0 |
| Seat belt usage not applicable | 3 |
Editor’s note: These numbers are preliminary. For more information on any of the fatalities, please contact us.
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