FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 22

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2002
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755

FATALITY REPORT: DPS REPORTS TEN KILLED
ON SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAYS JULY 19-21

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

A 21-year-old Spartanburg man has been charged with felony driving under the influence and felony child endangerment in connection with the death of his two-year-old daughter. George Turner IV was charged following a one-vehicle collision on Riddle Road Friday evening. The child was improperly restrained in a safety seat. Turner was treated and released and transported to jail after his vehicle collided with a tree.

Alcohol and/or was a factor in five of the ten fatalities during the weekend.

As of July 22, 579 people had died on South Carolina highways, compared to 565 last year at this time; of the 466 vehicle passengers who have died so far this year, 339 were not wearing seat belts.

Interstates	3
US routes, SC routes and secondary roads	7
Seat belt used	2
Seat belt not used	7
Seat belt usage not applicable	1 (one motorcyclist.)

-- 30 --

SG/96/02

-Back-