January has been a deadly month on South Carolina’s roads.
As of Jan. 22, 47 people have been killed in accidents, the S.C. Department of Public Safety reported Monday. Richland County had the highest number of reported deaths at eight, while Lexington County was third-highest with five.
The fatalities included a 15-year-old. Another was 78. Most were South Carolina residents but victims also lived in North Carolina and Virginia.
"Enough is enough!" shouted Lexington County Sheriff Jimmy Metts earlier this month, noting the spiking road deaths in his county. He's joined by state and local law enforcement officers. To Metts' left, parents of Emma Longstreet, killed Jan. 1 by a suspected drunk, holds her photo.
- S.C. DPS (Department of Public Safety) /S.C. DPS (Department of Public Safety)
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“It’s the same thing over and over and over,” said Trooper Brian Kelly, a spokesman for the Highway Patrol’s command post in Richland County. “It’s the drinking and driving, no seat belts, the speeding.”
Earlier this month, Lexington County Sheriff James Metts held a news conference at the county courthouse where he shook his fist in the air and repeatedly shouted “Enough is enough,” as he called for a reduction in traffic fatalities. The Highway Patrol announced plans for increased patrols in Lexington County, including a plan for troopers to stop pedestrians who might be endangering themselves.
Last week, four people were killed in a fiery crash on George Rogers Boulevard in Columbia. The wreck remains under investigation.
The deadly trend continued over the weekend with six people dying on the roads. Two were pedestrians and one was riding a mo-ped on I-26, the highway patrol reported. The other three were not wearing seat belts.
This year, 35 people were killed statewide while riding in cars and trucks, and more than half of them were not wearing seat belts, the public safety department reported. The rest were pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists.
Kelly said more people are walking because they can’t afford cars in the weak economy. He urged motorists to be aware of pedestrians and others using non-traditional forms of transportation.
“Just pay attention,” he said.
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