3-car accident on Hilton Head stops rush hour traffic headed off-island

If you’re leaving Hilton Head for the day, bring your patience and maybe some snacks.

Off-island traffic on Hilton Head was backed up well past Walmart on Thursday afternoon due a collision in the Squire Pope Road area, according to a town news release.

The three-car collision happened at Chamberlin Drive in the westbound right-hand lane, Maj. Bob Bromage of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday. One person was transported to the hospital with minor injuries, and crews cleared the scene around 4:30 p.m.

Traffic is still expected to be backed up due to the collision, Bromage said.

Beaufort County traffic cameras showed bumper-to-bumper westbound traffic from as far onto the island as the entrance to Indigo Run and Hilton Head Plantation.

Eastbound traffic starting at Windmill Harbour also looked to be delayed, according to Google Maps.

Google Maps is showing a 30-minute delay in the area, and the town news release advises drivers to use caution and “avoid the area if possible.”

U.S. 278 is the only route on and off Hilton Head Island, and westbound lanes frequently back up between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on weekday evenings.

This story was originally published May 2, 2019 at 4:34 PM.

Katherine Kokal

The Island Packet

843-560-9158

Katherine Kokal graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and joined The Island Packet newsroom in 2018. Before moving to the Lowcountry, she worked as an interviewer and translator at a nonprofit in Barcelona and at two NPR member stations. At The Island Packet, Katherine covers Hilton Head Island’s government, environment, development, beaches and the all-important Loggerhead Sea Turtle. She has earned South Carolina Press Association Awards for in-depth reporting, government beat reporting, business beat reporting, growth and development reporting, food writing and for her use of social media.