Multiple wrecks wreak havoc for drivers on both sides of highway in morning commute
A Thursday morning collision blocked a stretch of a highway running through Richland County and caused a traffic jam for drivers making the commute toward Columbia.
The crash happened before 7 a.m. on a section of Interstate 20 near Exit 65, the South Carolina Department of Transportation said on Twitter. That’s the exit connecting I-20 with U.S. 176 (Broad River Road).
All of the westbound lanes on I-20 were blocked at one point following the wreck, SCDOT tweeted.
Information on what caused the collision, or the number of vehicles involved, was not available.
Injuries were reported in the crash, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety.
Vehicles were backed up for miles and had to maneuver around obstacles in the road as emergency responders tried to clear the scene, SCDOT cameras showed. Vehicles slowly moved through the area as some lanes reopened and drivers were allowed to navigate through the scene on the left shoulder of the highway.
Another collision happened in the area around 8:45 a.m., and all of the east and westbound lanes were blocked, SCDOT said. That section of I-20 looked more like a parking lot, as vehicles halted to a crawl, traffic cameras showed.
No injuries were reported in the second crash, according to DPS.
That traffic jam was caused by a highway sign that was broken after being hit by an 18-wheel tractor trailer truck avoiding a wrong-way driver, South Carolina Highway Patrol reported.
Master Trooper David Jones said drivers should expect delays as westbound traffic was diverted off Exit 65 onto Broad River Road, and vehicles traveling east are detoured at Exit 64 and onto I-126.
“DOT’s concern is this thing is going to fall down on the interstate,” Jones said. “They have a crane in place, they have plenty of crew members in place, and they’re going to stake this barrier down. ... We’re going to be out here for quite some time.”
The wrecks occurred in an area of I-20 where roadwork is being done overnight. Lanes were closed from mile marker 60 to 70 on I-20 as part of a pavement preservation project, SCDOT said.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 8:13 AM.
