April 28, 2003
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755
COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces a preliminary number of nine people killed on South Carolina highways from Friday, April 25, at 6 p.m. until Sunday, April 27, at midnight.
Two pedestrians were struck and killed in separate incidents. A 2-year-old boy, who was not secured in a safety seat, died after the vehicle he was a passenger in struck a tree. One man died after being ejected and trapped under the vehicle in which he was a passenger. Two men died in separate two-vehicle crashes. A woman died after her vehicle struck another vehicle, then hit a guard rail on I-85. One man died after his vehicle ran a stop light colliding with another vehicle (the other driver has been charged with felony DUI). A 17-year-old has been charged with reckless homicide. As he was returning home from his prom, he struck another vehicle killing an unbelted passenger.
As of April 28, 241 people had died on South Carolina highways, compared to 314 last year at this time. Of the 203 motor vehicle occupants who have died in 2003, 138 were not wearing seat belts.
|
Interstates |
2 |
|
US routes, SC routes and secondary roads |
7 |
|
Seat belt used |
3 |
|
Seat belt not used |
4 |
|
Seat belt usage unknown |
0 |
|
Seat belt usage not applicable |
2 pedestrians |
The South Carolina Department of Public Safety includes the Criminal Justice Academy, Division of Motor Vehicles, Highway Patrol, Office of Highway Safety, State Transport Police, Bureau of Protective Services and Office of Justice Programs. DPS has more than 2,600 employees in offices statewide. Our mission is to ensure public safety by protecting and serving the people of South Carolina and its visitors.
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