FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 22, 2001

CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755

ON SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAYS JANUARY 19 - 21

COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces a preliminary number of four people killed on South Carolina highways from Friday, January 19, at 6 p.m. until Sunday, January 21, at midnight.

Three people were killed in a single vehicle collision early Sunday morning near Rock Hill. The three had recently left a private party when their vehicle ran off the left side of the road and struck a tree. Two passengers, who weren’t wearing seat belts, were thrown from the vehicle. One of the passengers was trapped beneath the overturned vehicle. Two of those who died were 18 years old and the third was 20 years old. Speed and alcohol apparently were contributing factors to the fatalities. A single vehicle collision claimed the fourth life Sunday when the driver of a vehicle struck a tree and overturned in Sumter County. The driver was not wearing a seat belt.

As of January 21, 40 people had died on South Carolina highways, compared to 55 last year at this time.

Editor’s note: These numbers are preliminary and are based on fatal collisions reported to the South Carolina Highway Patrol as of January 22, 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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