FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 20, 2001

CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755

ON SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAYS FEBRUARY 16-19

COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces a preliminary number of 23 people killed on South Carolina highways from Friday, February 16, at 6 p.m. until Monday, February 19, at midnight.

Here is a breakdown of those fatalities:

• 1 passenger killed, single vehicle, no seatbelt, driver charged with DUI
• 1 passenger killed, single vehicle, ran off road, struck tree, car engulfed in flames, passenger burned to death, no seatbelt
• 1 driver killed, single vehicle, driver apparently fell asleep, struck trees, no seatbelt
• 1 driver killed, single vehicle, driver may have fallen asleep, ran off roadway overturned, no seatbelt
• 1 passenger killed, single vehicle, excessive speed, driver lost control, overturned, struck trees; driver fled, later caught and charged with reckless homicide, possession of stolen vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, no seatbelt
• 2 passengers killed, single vehicle, 18-wheeler ran off road, struck bridge, overturned, no seatbelts
• 2 passengers killed, single vehicle, driver ran off roadway, striking culvert, no seatbelts
• 1 motorcyclist killed, vehicle turned in front of motorcycle; driver of vehicle charged with felony DUI, child endangerment, violation of child restraint
• 1 motorcyclist killed after striking another pedestrian
• 1 pedestrian struck and killed in median trying to push disabled vehicle from road
• 1 pedestrian struck and killed by another car
• 2 pedestrians struck and killed, trying to aid motorist with disabled vehicle that had been involved in previous collision
• 1 driver killed, two vehicle, driver attempting turn struck side of another vehicle; driver of the other vehicle charged with DUI, no seatbelt
• 1 driver killed, two vehicle, one driver failed to yield right of way, no seatbelt
• 1 passenger killed, two vehicle, one vehicle travelling excessive speed, crossed center line, hit another car head-on, seatbelt
• 1 passenger killed, two vehicle, one vehicle hit another attempting to make a turn, no seatbelt
• 2 killed, one driver, one passenger, two vehicle, one driver (who is deceased) pulled into path of another vehicle, neither wearing seatbelt
• 2 killed, one passenger, one driver, two vehicle, one struck another while one making u-turn, one driver charged with DUI, no seatbelts

So far, 132 people have died on South Carolina roadways this year compared to 120 at this time last year.

Editor’s note: These numbers are preliminary and are based on fatal collisions reported to the South Carolina Highway Patrol as of February 20, 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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SI/31/2001

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