Good Samaritan Tragically Dies in Aiken County, South Carolina (SC)

AIKEN COUNTY, SC- Wrdw.com writes that a woman from Graniteville died this week when a semi-truck struck her on Interstate 20. The crash took place in the westbound lanes of traffic in the early afternoon.*

The victim, identified as a 44-year-old woman, had pulled over to the side of the roadway to provide assistance to another driver. The motorist on the side of the interstate had run out of gas, and the victim was helping the person refuel when the truck collided with her about two and a half miles from Interstate 520. Responders rushed the woman to the Augusta University Medical Center, where she was declared dead. 

Police are still investigating the crash. The westbound traffic lanes were shut down while crews worked at the scene, but they reopened hours later. 

According to the AAA, it is important to stay in a car after a breakdown on a highway or interstate with fast-moving traffic. Staying inside of a vehicle will provide some protection while exiting the car will leave a person more vulnerable. 

The same is true for minor crashes, as stopping in the road or close to the flow of traffic is extremely dangerous. These drivers should call for help and then wait for professional assistance. The AAA also notes that if the crash was the result of a slick road or bad weather, there is a decent chance of another crash taking place in that area, causing more dangers to the people who pulled to the side of the road.  

About sixteen percent of all pedestrian crashes take place on freeways. Exiting a car on a high-speed road after a fender bender or breakdown can turn an inconvenience into a tragedy. 

Accident News is a safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes.  To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.

Sources:

https://www.wrdw.com/content/news/Interstate-being-shut-down-after-pedestrian-is-struck-569352971.html

https://www.cars.com/articles/after-breakdown-or-accident-its-best-to-stay-in-your-car-1420663217827/