Highway Fatalities pacing Last Year in Upstate

Highway fatalities are keeping pace with last year’s numbers in the tri-county area of Upstate South Carolina. Anderson County lists 13 in 2015 compared to 10 in 2014. Oconee County has experienced five highway deaths in each of the past two years at this same time. Pickens County reports five in 2015 and 6 in 2014. The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces that as of May 11, 306 people have died on state highways, compared to 267 deaths during the same period in 2014. Of the 224 motor vehicle occupants who have died in 2015, 109 were not wearing seat belts. Through midnight May 11, 35 pedestrians have died compared to 29 in 2014; 29 motorcyclists have died compared to 24 in 2014; and 7 bicyclists have died compared to 4 in 2014 on state roads and highways.