Crash near Sun City sparks vehicle fire, delays traffic on US 278, officials say
A crash near Sun City Hilton Head sparked a vehicle fire and briefly blocked several highway lanes Wednesday afternoon, according to an alert sent just after 2:30 p.m. by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.
The crash at the intersection of U.S. 278 (Fording Island Road) and Sun City Boulevard initially blocked all lanes of the highway, police said.
But as of 3:20 p.m., traffic camera views showed drivers in both eastbound and westbound lanes proceeding slowly past the site of the crash.
One of the two vehicles involved in the collision caught fire, but the flames were quickly extinguished by Bluffton fire crews, according to fire department spokesman Stephen Combs.
BCSO spokesman Staff Sgt. Robert Herlong said the South Carolina Highway Patrol was responding to the scene due to the “severity” of the collision.
Details on potential injuries in the collision were not immediately available.
Drivers in the Okatie area should expect delays heading into the Wednesday evening rush hour.
This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 3:26 PM.
