Serious SC 11 accident near school made worse

At last report, state troopers continued to investigate an accident this afternoon on n. highway 11 not far from Walhalla High.  Authorities say a van and a tractor-trailer trucker were involved and the van, according to Oconee Fire Chief Charlie King, left the scene but was later stopped by the West Union police.  The tractor-trailer truck sustained a significant diesel leak from its on-board fuel tanks, but HAZMAT crews quickly contained.   No one was hurt.  However, a fire fighter escaped injury or worse when an apparent distracted driver’s vehicle   struck a stationed fire truck from the rear. Neither that driver nor the firefighter was hurt in the second wreck. According to King, the fire truck was parked with its emergency lights flashing, the firefighter was wearing protective equipment (including a bright yellow vest) and traffic cones lined the roadway. “We cannot stress how important it is for drivers to pay attention to the roadway and their surroundings while operating a vehicle. A team member in Oconee could have easily been injured or killed today, simply by a driver being distracted. Less than a year ago a volunteer firefighter in Anderson County lost his life while directing traffic at an accident scene on Clemson Blvd,” said King.