FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2002
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755

COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces a preliminary number of 11 people killed on South Carolina highways during the 78-hour Memorial Day holiday weekend, which ran from Friday, May 24, at 6 p.m. until Monday, May 27, at midnight. Seven people died in traffic collisions during the Memorial Day holiday weekend last year.

Two motorcyclists were killed in a single-vehicle collision in Aiken County. Two other motorcyclists were killed after striking other vehicles in collisions in Greenville County and Horry County. None of the motorcyclists who died was wearing a helmet.

Two people died in a single-vehicle collision in Lexington County when their vehicle ran off the road and struck some trees. Two people were killed in separate single-vehicle collisions in Aiken County and Kershaw County when the vehicles in which they were riding overturned. All four of these people, none of whom was wearing a seat belt, were ejected from their vehicles. One person, who was not wearing a seat belt, died in a single-vehicle collision in Horry County when his vehicle ran off the road, struck a tree and caught fire.

One person, who was buckled up, was killed in a single-vehicle collision in Saluda County when his vehicle ran off the road and hit several trees. One person died in a single-vehicle collision in Greenville County after his vehicle ran off the road and struck a house; seat belt usage for this person is unknown at this time.

As of May 27, 398 people had died on South Carolina highways, compared to 394 last year at this time.

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JB/78/2002

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