Truck Driver Crashes 18-wheeler Truck on Waccamaw River Memorial Bridge on U.S. 501 in Conway, South Carolina (SC)

CONWAY, S.C. – According to an online news report published on wmbfnews.com, a truck driver of an 18-wheeler tractor-trailer truck that crashed into the bridge’s guard rail and rolled over the guardrail with debris falling into the Waccamaw River Memorial Bridge on U.S. 501.*

The bridge collision accident was deemed a criminal offense by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the truck driver was charged.  South Carolina Highway Patrol Master Trooper Brian Lee stated that the Georgia truck driver was charged with driving too fast for the conditions. 

According to the news report, the truck driver wan not severely injured or killed when his truck broke through the guardrail and fell from  the drop from the top of the Waccamaw River Memorial Bridge into the river below. Conway law enforcement stated that driver was actually able to walk away from the accident.  The truck accident cleanup is expected to take several days.

Clean up crews were called in after the accident investigation and the crews arrived at the accident scene at approximately 8 a.m. on Friday to begin the clean process. Two cranes were used to lift the truck wreckage and other large pieces of truck and bridge wreckage.  The road was closed as the wreckage crews and crane operators removed the wreckage from the river and bridge.  The delay caused significant backups on along each route that leads into Conway from the beach.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control also attended to the accident scene to determine the environmental impact and direct the clean up of oil and fuel.  The news report also states that the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control used a boat to ensure that all of the wreckage debris has been removed to protect the environment.  The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control representatives stated that they worked to remove the truck’s fuel spill.

A temporary barrier that covers the damaged bridge railing was placed as a temporary safety measure to allow motorists to use the bridge safely.

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 a 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. 

Source:

https://www.wmbfnews.com/2020/11/13/schp-driver-charged-after-wheeler-goes-off-waccamaw-river-memorial-bridge/