Tri-County Highway Fatalities down from last Year

Now that students are out of school for the summer, more people will be traveling for vacation. So far, traffic fatalities in the tri-county area of Upstate South Carolina are down from last year at this same time. The South Carolina Department of Public Safety reports six traffic deaths in Oconee County in each of the past two years at this time. Pickens County lists six in 2015 compared to seven in 2014. Anderson County has experienced 14 traffic fatalities in 2015 compared to 18 in 2014. As of June 14, 386 people have died on South Carolina highways, compared to 346 highway deaths during the same time period in 2014. Of the 270 motor vehicle occupants who have died statewide in 2015, 129 were not wearing seat belts. Through midnight June 14, 41 pedestrians have died compared to 37 in 2014; 47 motorcyclists have died compared to 37 in 2014; and 8 bicyclists have died compared to 5 in 2014 on state roads and highways.