Trucks collide on Broad River bridge; traffic trouble lasts for hours

A tow truck overturned in the southbound lane of the Broad River Bridge after it struck a construction truck about 11:30 a.m. Monday, snarling S.C. 170 traffic in both directions, said S.C. Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Bob Beres.

Both drivers were taken by ambulance to Beaufort Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Beres said.

The tow-truck driver, Joseph Barentine, 37, of Beaufort, was admitted to the hospital. His condition was not released.

The construction-truck driver, David Green, 48, of Charleston, was treated and released.

Green's truck, a vehicle used to direct traffic with a large yellow arrow, was behind construction crews working on the bridge, Beres said. Barentine was ticketed for driving too fast for conditions, Beres said.

Emergency crews worked to clear the accident and examined evidence most of the afternoon. In the meantime, north- and southbound traffic shared the northbound side of the bridge until it was cleared. Both sides of the bridge reopened about 3 p.m., Beres said.

Cassie Foss