Traffic

Thursday afternoon crash blocks traffic in Bluffton as man is arrested on US 278

By Evan McKenna and Sebastian Lee
A man in handcuffs was seen bent over the hood of a Bluffton Police Department patrol car at the scene of an accident at the intersection of U.S. 278 and Buck Island Road just after 3 p.m. Thursday.
A man in handcuffs was seen bent over the hood of a Bluffton Police Department patrol car at the scene of an accident at the intersection of U.S. 278 and Buck Island Road just after 3 p.m. Thursday. Sebastian Lee Sebastian Lee

A crash at the intersection of Buck Island Road and U.S. 278 was stalling Thursday afternoon traffic through Bluffton, as police handcuffed a man over the hood of a cop car on the side of the highway.

The right turning lane onto Buck Island was blocked by first responders’ vehicles, but all eastbound lanes of traffic were backed up as of 3:20 p.m. Thursday.

Traffic had returned to a normal flow on Fording Island Road as of 5 p.m. Thursday.

Spokesperson Sgt. Bonifacio Perez from the Bluffton Police Department said the arrest is a suspected DUI.

This report will be updated as more information becomes available.

This story was originally published October 19, 2023 at 3:33 PM.

Profile Image of Evan McKenna
Evan McKenna
The Island Packet
(843) 321-8375
Evan is a breaking news reporter for The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. A Tennessee native and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, he reports on crime and safety across Beaufort and Jasper counties. For tips or story ideas, email emckenna@islandpacket.com or call 843-321-8375.
Profile Image of Sebastian Lee
Sebastian Lee
The Island Packet
Sebastian Lee covers Beaufort County for The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2022. If he’s not working he’s most likely watching a good movie or spinning a record.
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