FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 5, 2001

CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755

ON SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAYS DURING JULY 4^TH HOLIDAY

COLUMBIA - The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces a preliminary number of four people killed on South Carolina highways from Tuesday, July 3, at 6 p.m. until Wednesday, July 4, at midnight.

A 15-year-old was killed when the moped she was riding on as a passenger skidded into the path of an on-coming vehicle. A 14-year-old, who was wearing a seat belt, died on Interstate 85 outside of Spartanburg when the driver of the vehicle in which she was a passenger fell asleep and overturned in the median, landing on top of a concrete barrier. Two others died in separate collisions. Neither person was wearing a seat belt.

Nine people were killed on South Carolina’s roads and highways in 1990, the last time there was a 30-hour Independence Day holiday period. In 2000, 18 people died during the July 4th holiday period, but that spanned a 102-hour time period.

So far this year, 453 people have been killed on South Carolina highways compared to 557 at the same time last year.

The Highway Patrol issued more than 1,500 citations at checkpoints during the holiday period, including 20 for driving under the influence, 106 for child restraint violations and 641 for seat belt violations.

Interstates 1

US routes, SC routes and secondary roads 3

Seat belts used 1

Seat belts not used 2

Seat belt usage not applicable 1

Editor’s note: These numbers are preliminary and are based on fatal collisions reported to the South Carolina Highway Patrol as of July 4, 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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