Holiday Weekend Fatalities

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces a preliminary number of six people being killed on South Carolina roadways during the long Fourth of July holiday weekend, from Wednesday, July 3, at 6 p.m. until Sunday, July 7, at midnight. The six traffic deaths were during a 102-hour reporting period, compared to five fatalities reported during a 30-hour period in 2012.  Of the six deaths, three were motorcyclists, two of which occurred in upstate South Carolina. Of the other 3 fatalities, none were wearing a seatbelt. As of July 7, 350 people have died on South Carolina highways, compared to 434 highway deaths in this same time period in 2012.  Of the 244 motor vehicle occupants who have died in 2013, 147 were not wearing seat belts.  Through midnight July 7, 37 pedestrians, 54 motorcyclists and six bicyclists have died on state roads and highways.