5 people injured after tractor-trailer flips
By David MacDougall
Five people were injured in a three-vehicle collision that snarled eastbound traffic on Interstate 26 for more than an hour Monday afternoon.
David MacDougall/Staff
Eastbound lanes of I-26 were closed to traffic at the Remount Road interchange Monday afternoon after an 18-wheeler flipped onto its aide about 3:30 p.m. Two other cars were involved. Several people were taken to local hospitals.
Shortly after 3:30 p.m., a 2007 Freightliner tractor-trailer being driven by William Amaker, 33, swerved to the right in the construction area near the Remount Road interchange to avoid hitting another vehicle, said Lance Cpl. Bob Beres of the S.C. Highway Patrol. The tractor-trailer struck a 2003 Ford sport utility vehicle, jack-knifed and landed on its side, Beres said. The tractor-trailer slid down the roadway and into a disabled 1996 Mercedes that was parked off the roadway with a flat tire.
The driver of the Mercedes, a 65-year-old woman, was outside of her car when the tractor-trailer slid into it, Beres said. There were two passengers in the Mercedes. The driver and both passengers were taken by Charleston County EMS to Medical University Hospital, Beres said. One of the passengers had serious injuries and was in the intensive care unit, he said.
The driver of the Ford SUV, a 31-year-old man, and Amaker, the tractor-trailer driver, were taken to Roper St. Francis Hospital, Beres said.
Amaker was charged with driving too fast for conditions, Beres said.
Eastbound traffic was backed up for miles after the wreck, while westbound traffic was slowed down by drivers who were craning their necks to look at the wreck in the eastbound lanes.
In the eastbound lanes, drivers turned off their cars to save gas. Some got out and walked around to assess the situation. Several were seen tossing a football to pass the time, and a few climbed over a barrier wall to use a portable toilet set up for construction workers.
One lane of eastbound traffic was kept open for a while until workers needed to close all three lanes so they could flip the tractor-trailer back onto its wheels. All three lanes were closed for about 45 minutes.
Traffic was back to normal about 5:15 p.m., Beres said.
Reach David W. MacDougall at macdougd@postandcourier.com or 937-5655.
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