42 Vehicles Involved In Charleston South Carolina Crash on I-26
This past Monday almost turned tragic when at least 42 South Carolina car accident drivers were part of a series of wrecks that occurred on Interstate 26 near Summerville. The accidents happened shortly after five o'clock in the afternoon, which is right during rush hour traffic. The collisions resulted in at least 16 victims that are known to have sustained injuries. Fortunately, no one had any major injuries as of the time of the report. Those that were hurt were treated and released for their injuries at Trident Medical Center and Summerville Medical Center and no one injured required being hospitalized overnight.
All of the vehicles were not involved in the same accident but rather in a series of wrecks that all happened close to the Summerville exit off of I-26. The pileup started after there was reportedly a minor traffic accident on the other side of the interstate. It had been raining that afternoon and some cars traveling West towards Columbia were reportedly "rubber necking" to see another accident on the East bound side of the interstate. Some traffic slowed while others continued at a higher rate of speed and multiple collisions resulted. The West bound interstate was forced to be closed for a period of time as ambulances and police helped the injured and removed the cars and other debris from the road. The East bound side was not closed but traffic did not move for a period of time and onlookers watched the clean up from the 42 vehicle accident.
Remarkably, one hospital official reported that it is not unusual for fifteen to twenty-five people to arrive at those area hospitals from just one accident and cite South Carolina school bus accidents as an example of where there can be multiple injuries during one crash.
On a good note, Charleston area hospitals are reportedly said to be prepared for South Carolina accidents that produce massive injuries and fatalities. Plans are in place to coordinate with medical staff and employees to respond in an emergency situation and emergency medical services employees are trained to call in advance and warn the hospitals of the number of injured and dead from any one or a series of accidents.
Source: I-26 pileup involved 42 vehicles, authorities say, Charleston Post & Courier, July 8, 2009.
Howell and Christmas, LLC handles auto accident cases in Charleston Berkeley and Dorchester Counties as well as the rest of South Carolina.
