1 dead, 3 people injured after Wednesday late-night collision on U.S. 278 in Bluffton
This story will be updated as more details become available.
A three-car collision at U.S. 278 and Moss Creek Drive Wednesday night left one person dead and three injured, according to South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Three cars — a 2018 Dodge Journey, a 2012 Hyundai Sedan and a 2013 Infiniti SUV — crashed Wednesday at 10:42 p.m. in Bluffton, according to Master Trooper Brian Lee.
A passenger in the Dodge, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected and killed, Lee said. The passenger was identified as Amy Kleckner, 51, of Bluffton, according to Beaufort County Deputy Coroner Kathryn Shillinglaw. Kleckner was pronounced dead at the scene, Shillinglaw said.
The Dodge driver was wearing a seat belt; the driver of the sedan was not, according to Lee. It is unknown whether the driver of the SUV was wearing a seat belt. All three drivers were taken to the hospital for treatment, Lee said.
The Hyundai and the Infiniti were traveling west on U.S. 278, Lee said. The Dodge was crossing U.S. 278 at the time of the crash, according to Lee.
Firefighters and emergency responders from the Bluffton Township Fire District arrived at the scene around 10:45 p.m., spokesperson Capt. Randy Hunter said Thursday. The fire district worked there until around 1 a.m., and westbound lanes were shut down “throughout the night during the incident,” Hunter said.
Westbound lanes of U.S. 278 and Moss Creek Drive were blocked off as of 6:21 a.m. Thursday while South Carolina Highway Patrol investigated, according to an alert from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. Drivers were instructed to use the Bluffton flyover, the alert said. The center and left eastbound lanes of U.S. 278 were also blocked, but the right lane was open, the alert said. As of 9:33 a.m. Thursday, all lanes on U.S. 278 were open, according to an alert from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.
An autopsy has not been scheduled, but will take place at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, Shillinglaw said.
South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team are investigating the accident, Lee said.
This story was originally published October 14, 2021 at 8:31 AM.
