16 cars. 5 wrecks. Several hospitalized in I-95 crashes that stopped traffic for hours
A half-mile radius between Hardeeville and Georgia’s state line was the scene of five separate car crashes on Wednesday evening, which sent five people to the hospital and brought I-95 traffic to a standstill, according to authorities.
Sixteen cars were involved in the collisions, which included a five-car pileup at 6:09 p.m. blocking the roadway going south toward Savannah, according to S.C. Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Tyler Tidwell.
“One patient had to be extricated, and five were transported to local hospitals,” according to a Facebook post from Jasper County Fire Rescue.
The first crash, two miles from the Georgia state line, began at 4:50 p.m., and the fifth occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m., said Tidwell.
“Heavy rains may be to blame,” the City of Hardeeville said in a news release Wednesday evening.
Tidwell said southbound lanes were blocked after the first crash at 4:50 p.m., and then northbound lanes toward Hardeeville were blocked after the five-car collision at 6:09 p.m.
By 9 p.m., the northbound lane was still shut down, and the southbound lane was reopening, Jasper County Sheriff’s Office Jake Higgins said Wednesday night.
Every crash occurred at the 2-mile marker, Tidwell said. The Highway Patrol is investigating.
This story was originally published August 13, 2020 at 10:32 AM.
