By Andy Brack | More people died on South Carolina highways in 2021 than in any year since 2018.
With one week left in the year, the number of people who died in traffic accidents across the state rose to 1,068 people on Dec. 22 following an evening wreck on U.S. Highway 76 in Newberry, according to the S.C. Department of Public Safety. In 2020, 1,067 people died on S.C. highways, compared to 1,006 in 2019 and 1,036 in 2018.
There also have been more fatal crashes in 2021 – 991 wrecks involving fatalities – than in the three previous years. The number of pedestrians killed in wrecks – 173 people – is fewer than the 187 who died in 2020, but higher than the 165 who died the year earlier. Records also show 148 motorcyclists died this year, compared to 116 in 2020, and 18 bicyclists died, two more than the year before.
Lance Cpl. Nick Pye of the S.C. Highway Patrol’s Charleston office said most highway deaths can be prevented.
“We work very very few fatalities that couldn’t have been avoided,” he said. “When somebody is going 20 or 30 miles above the speed limit (and dies), that could have been prevented.”
Pye said the top three factors involved in highway deaths include accidents featuring speeding, distracted driving or driving under the influence.
“Anytime you throw in somebody not wearing a seatbelt in there, the chances are higher of something going wrong,” he said.
In other recent news:
Biden nominates S.C.’s Child to federal appellate bench. President Biden has nominated U.S. District Judge Michelle Childs of South Carolina to serve on the federal appellate bench for the District of Columbia. Childs, who has served as a federal judge since 2010, has a law degree from the University of South Carolina and a master’s degree in law from Duke University.
COVID-19 cases are spiking. State health officials say the number of COVID-19 cases is much higher now than it was in June as residents may face long lines to get tested due to holiday schedules. “In June of 2021, we were seeing fewer than 100 new cases a day, now we are seeing more than 2,000 more cases a day,” Dr. Jane Kelly, assistant state epidemiologist, told WIS TV. The percentage of positive COVID-19 tests was reported at 11.1 percent yesterday, officials said.
Clyburn reports breakthrough case of COVID-19. U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the Associated Press. Clyburn, 81, announced Wednesday he is fully vaccinated with a booster and has no symptoms. The announcement comes a week after President Joe Biden visited South Carolina State University. Biden, who reportedly was exposed to the virus last week, has tested negative. Across the state, the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 is rising.
Education leaders, advocates ask for raises for teachers, bus drivers. The state Education Department is asking South Carolina lawmakers to increase pay for all teachers by 2 percent next school year. More: How the state ed department wants to dole out raises.
S.C. school reform bill killed by COVID after hitting strong crosswinds. Efforts to reform the classroom peaked just as a pandemic seized the world — people died, and students lost so much critical learning. Suddenly, the education policy everyone debated was whether students should have to wear face masks in school.
Additional $1.3B in federal funds for state roads to require infusion of state taxes. South Carolina is slated to receive an additional $1.3 billion in federal highway funding over the next five years, but getting it depends on the Legislature ponying up more in state taxes.
Former S.C. House leader released from prison. Jim Harrison, a former Republican leader in the S.C. House, was released from prison by the state parole board after serving less than six months of his sentence.
Harpootlian gets U.S. Senate nod to be ambassador to Slovenia. The U.S. Senate has confirmed Columbia attorney Jamie Lindler Harpootlian, wife of state Sen. Dick Harpootlian, to be ambassador to Slovenia.
S.C. House releases proposed congressional map that further splits SC-1. Two proposed maps of changes to S.C. Congressional District 1 have been released by the S.C. House to reflect changes in population growth in South Carolina. Both proposals break up S.C.-1 and move large parts of Charleston into S.C.-6, a move that some have called gerrymandering to protect the Republican incumbent in S.C.-1.
S.C.’s Rice says he regrets objecting to 2020 election results. Seventh District U.S. Rep. Tom Rice of South Carolina says he regrets voting against certifying the 2020 election results, yet he was one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach then-President Donald Trump for failing to intervene when a mob of his supporters caused a riot on Capitol Hill to stop the certification of election results.
Ridgeville Republican resigns immediately from S.C. House. S.C. Rep. Mandy Kimmons is leaving the S.C. House after serving three years. She made the announcement Tuesday on her social media page, saying she wanted to spend more time on her legal career and serving her community.
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