MEDIA ADVISORY

COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces the following FOURTH OF JULY MEDIA/PUBLIC events. The public is invited to meet the Highway Patrol at the following locations/talk with them about July 4 activities in their area. Members of the SCDPS Families of Highway Fatalities group will join the Highway Patrol in most locations to assist.

Troop One:

June 30, 11 a.m.:

NEWS CONFERENCE. Highway Patrol Troop One Headquarters, 1626 Shop Road.

Will announce July 4 enforcement efforts, public safety checkpoints. Joined by Lexington County Sheriff James Metts and the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.

Contact: L/Cpl. Josef Robinson, 803-896-8144

June 30, 12:30 p.m.-3 p.m.:

I-20 Rest Area Camden/Kershaw Exit (Westbound)

Highway Patrol/Families of Highway Fatalities distributing safety literature to motorists.

Contact: L/Cpl. Josef Robinson, 803-896-8144

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY, 10 p.m.: Highway Patrol and multiple law enforcement agencies will hold checkpoint in Lexington County on SC 302. This site was chosen because of the high number of DUI-related collisions in this area of the county. Media are invited to attend/shoot footage from checkpoint. Media must make contact with Sgt. Hughes and/or L/Cpl. Robinson once on the scene.

Contact: L/Cpl. Robinson, 803-896-8144

Troop Two/Three:

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY: I-85/U.S. 221 (southbound entrance ramp), 10 a.m.: Highway Patrol, Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office; FHF victim’s family to be available. To announce enforcement multi-agency enforcement plans for Fourth of July.

L/Cpl. Steve Sluder, 803-896-8144

Saturday, July 1, 9 a.m.-Noon:

I-26 Rest Area, Calhoun County (Eastbound)

Highway Patrol/Families of Highway Fatalities distributing safety information to motorists.

Contact: L/Cpl. Josef Robinson, 803-896-8144

July 4, 10 a.m.-Noon:

I-26/Welcome Center (Southbound lane), Spartanburg County

Highway Patrol distributing safety literature to motorists.

L/Cpl. Steve Sluder, 803-896-8144

Troop 4:

June 30, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.:

SCDOT Safety Break, I-85 Welcome Center, Blacksburg

SC Highway Patrol and FHF members to assist in distributing safety literature to motorists.

**Contact L/Cpl. McDougald re:

Evening Checkpoint with North Carolina and South Carolina State Troopers at the state line in Chesterfield County, media invited.

**Evening LEN checkpoint in York County, media invited.

Troop 5:

10 a.m.-Noon:

I-95 Rest Area (soundbound), Florence County

S/Tpr. Sonny Collins and FHF member distributing safety literature, available for travel interviews.

2 p.m.:

S/Tpr. Collins at South of the Border distributing safety material.

TFC Sonny Collins, 803-896-8144

Troop 6:

June 30, Noon-2 p.m.

I-26 Rest Area (Westbound)

Highway Patrol and FHF Member distributing safety literature to motorists, available for travel interviews.

Contact: L/Cpl. Paul Brouthers, 803-896-8144

3:30 p.m.:

I-95 Welcome Center (Northbound), Jasper County:

Highway Patrol to distribute safety literature

Contact: L/Cpl. Paul Brouthers, 803-896-8144

Troop 7:

June 30,10 a.m.-2 p.m.:

I-20 Welcome Center (Eastbound), N. Augusta

Highway Patrol Capt. C.N. Williamson (11 a.m.) and FHF distributing literature

Contact: L/Cpl. Scot Edgeworth, 803-896-8144

July 1, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.:

I-95 Welcome Center (southbound)/Santee

Highway Patrol and FHF distributing literature

Contact: L/Cpl. Scot Edgeworth, 803-896-8144

*** media please direct all inquiries to the attached contact people or to the Community Relations Information Box, 803-896-8144. For the counties contained in each Troop, see www.schp.org.