Upstate Highway Fatalities on pace with Last Year

Highway fatalities in the tri-county area of Upstate South Carolina are on pace with last year, according to the recent figures released by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety. Anderson County lists 28 deaths in 2018 compared to 26 in 2017. Oconee County reports 11 in 2018 and 9 in 2017. Pickens County has experienced 9 fatalities in 2018 compared to 15 in 2017. As of Aug. 12, 605 people have died on South Carolina highways, compared to 609 highway deaths during the same time period in 2017. Of the 420 motor vehicle occupants who have died statewide in 2018, 212 were not wearing seat belts. Through Aug. 12, 92 pedestrians have died compared to 85 in 2017; 65 motorcyclists have died compared to 69 in 2017; and 10 bicyclists have died compared to 12 in 2017 on state roadways. These numbers are preliminary and are based on fatal collisions compiled by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety as of 11:59pm on Aug. 12, 2018.