FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 4, 2001

CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755

ON SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAYS JUNE 1-3

COLUMBIA - The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces a preliminary number of nine people killed on South Carolina highways from Friday, June 1, at 6 p.m. until Sunday, June 3, at midnight.

Four people were killed in separate crashes where the driver lost control, went into the other lane striking an oncoming vehicle. One pedestrian was struck and killed by a commercial motor vehicle. One person was killed after a vehicle ran a stop sign. One passenger was killed when the driver, who was charged with felony DUI, ran off the road, striking a tree. One person died when his vehicle ran off the road, overturned and he was ejected. One passenger was killed when the driver, who was charged with felony DUI, ran off the road and struck a bridge.

As of June 3, 363 people had died on South Carolina highways compared to 453 at this time last year.

Interstates                                                         0

US routes, SC routes and secondary roads 9

Seat belts used                                                 2

Seat belts not used                                         5

Seat belt usage unknown                                 1

Seat belt usage not applicable                         1 (pedestrian)

Editor’s note: These numbers are preliminary and are based on fatal collisions reported to the South Carolina Highway Patrol as of June 3, 2001. For more information on any of the fatalities, please contact us. Also, the DPS web site address has changed to www.scdps.org. Please bookmark this address and visit the web site often. You will find the latest DPS news there as well as information about the various DPS divisions and their diverse responsibilities.

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