FAIRFIELD CO., SC – A pickup truck driver died early Thursday morning after a crash involving two tractor-trailers and a chemical spill near Blythewood, WLTX News 19 reports.
Police say the accident happened around 3:30 a.m. on southbound I-77 near mile marker 31, which is close to both Blythewood and Ridgeway.
A southbound pickup truck was struck by two different 18 wheelers, first a 2003 Peterbilt and then a 2020 Volvo towing a trailer. Prior to the collision, the driver of the pickup truck had attempted to change lanes without following appropriate precautions.
Both the Volvo tractor-trailer and the pickup truck caught fire in the crash. Crews called for a HAZMAT response after determining that one of the semis carried around 20,000 pounds of solid ammonium sulfate. The collision caused the chemical to spill onto the roadway.
Fairfield County Fire Services asked all people living within a one-mile radius of the crash to shelter in place while teams worked to clear the wreck and clean up the spill, which took almost 15 hours total. Officials also closed all lanes of I-77 in the vicinity of the accident.
Officials lifted the shelter-in-place order by around 10:39 a.m. The northbound lanes of I-77 re-opened around 10:53 a.m. One southbound lane re-opened by 2:09 p.m., and all lanes had re-opened by 6:29 p.m.
The driver of the pickup truck died in the accident. Authorities have not yet released this person’s identity to the public.
The driver of the Volvo semi-truck went to the hospital with non-critical injuries.
The accident remains under investigation.
If you’ve lost a loved one in a truck accident in the Blythewood area, having legal representation can give you your best chance at justice. The South Carolina truck accident lawyers at Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers will prioritize your case so that you can devote your energy to remembering your loved one. Reach us today online or by phone at (803) 373-1668 for a free case evaluation.
