FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2002
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755

COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces a preliminary number of 15 people killed on South Carolina highways from Friday, June 28, at 6 p.m. until Sunday, June 30, at midnight.

A 25-year-old Taylors’ man was charged with felony driving under the influence after his pick up collided head-on with another vehicle in Oconee County. A 68-year-old woman, who was seat-belted, died as a result of the collision. Three pedestrians were struck and killed over the weekend and a motorcyclist died after hitting a mailbox and a telephone pole. Another motorcyclist died after striking a median guard rail.

A single-car wreck on Interstate-26 claimed the life of a West Virginia woman. The other four people in the vehicle, all of whom were wearing seat belts, walked away without being injured.

As of June 30, 501 people had died on South Carolina highways, compared to 499 last year at this time; of the 404 vehicle passengers who have died so far this year, 297 were not wearing seat belts.