Car drives off bridge by highway entrance, blocking drivers leaving Columbia, police say
A major highway for drivers looking to leave downtown Columbia was blocked following a crash where a car drove off a bridge Wednesday afternoon, according to the Columbia Police Department.
The westbound, or outbound, lanes on Interstate 126 were closed after the collision near Elmwood Avenue, police said.
“It appears a car went over the railing,” Deputy Chief Melron Kelly told The State Wednesday. “It did not go into the water, but landed on the embankment.”
That’s in the narrow area between the Saluda River and the river walk, Kelly said.
The wreck happened at about 12:25 p.m., according to police. As of 1:50 p.m., the lanes leading drivers toward Lexington were empty for miles, as there was a traffic jam for drivers looking to get on I-126 from Columbia, South Carolina Department of Transportation cameras showed.
A car drove off the bridge on I-126 and caught fire just before the river, police said. The car was the only vehicle involved in the wreck, according to Kelly.
Kelly said the driver was alert and taken to Prisma Health Richland hospital.
The Columbia Fire Department said the driver suffered significant injuries, but further information on his condition was not available.
Even though the driver was taken to the hospital, emergency responders remained on the scene as they were getting a crane to lift the car out of the area, according to Kelly.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol also responded to the scene to evaluate the bridge railing’s integrity and ensure it’s safe, according to Kelly. It’s expected to take at least an hour to lift the car, Kelly said.
Drivers are urged to seek alternate routes and avoid the area, police said. Drivers are also asked to exercise caution if they are in the area.
Information about when the lanes would be reopened and the scene at I-126 would be cleared was not available, but police said drivers should expect significant delays.
Police are continuing to investigate the crash, and are trying to determine if the wreck was the result of a mechanical issue, or if another factor like speed or alcohol might have been involved.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 1:14 PM.
