Five killed on SC Roadways over New Year’s Holiday

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces five people were killed on state roadways during the New Year’s Holiday reporting period, which started Friday, Dec. 29, at 6pm and concluded Monday, Jan. 1, at midnight. Fifteen people were killed during the 2016 New Year’s holiday travel period. Locally, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety lists Anderson County with 43 traffic fatalities in 2017 compared to 57 in 2016. Oconee County reports 19 in 2017 and 11 in 2016. Pickens County experienced 19 traffic deaths each of the past two years. As of Dec. 31, 964 people have died on South Carolina highways, compared to 1,020 highway deaths during the same time period in 2016. However, 2017 numbers are preliminary as the agency continues to receive collision reports from law enforcement agencies. Of the 644 motor vehicle occupants who have died in 2017, 311 were not wearing safety belts. Through midnight Dec. 31, 2017, 155 pedestrians died compared to 148 in 2016; 113 motorcyclists died compared to 149 in 2016; and 19 bicyclists died compared to 25 in 2016 on state roadways.