Santee, South Carolina — A massive 69-vehicle pileup shut down a major stretch of I-95 after dense fog drastically reduced visibility on the Lake Marion bridge, leaving vehicles crushed together, trucks twisted across the roadway and at least one car on fire.
The crash happened around 8:50 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, near the 100-mile marker on I-95 southbound, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol and Clarendon County Fire Rescue.
What initially appeared to be a much smaller collision quickly grew into one of the largest crashes first responders had seen in the area.
Crash Quickly Grew From Six Vehicles to 69
When emergency crews first arrived, they were reportedly told they were responding to a six-vehicle collision.
But as responders moved through the wreckage, it became clear the crash was much larger.
According to local reports, vehicles continued to be discovered along the sprawling scene, eventually bringing the total to 69 vehicles.
The crash involved 15 eighteen-wheelers and 54 other vehicles, creating a massive field of wreckage across the interstate. Some vehicles were wedged underneath tractor-trailers, while several trucks were left badly damaged and twisted from the force of the collisions.
At least one vehicle also caught fire, adding another danger for people trapped in the pileup.
Dense Fog Created Dangerous Driving Conditions
The crash stretched across the Lake Marion bridge, a more than one-mile section of I-95 that carries traffic over Lake Marion, South Carolina’s largest lake.
Fire officials from nearby Santee said drivers were dealing with thick, dense fog across the bridge, dramatically reducing visibility.
The conditions meant motorists had little time to react when vehicles ahead began crashing.
On a bridge that extends for more than a mile over the lake, the combination of limited visibility and stopped or slowing traffic created an especially dangerous situation.
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As more vehicles entered the crash area, the pileup continued to expand.
Two People Seriously Injured
Emergency crews faced a major rescue operation as they worked to reach people trapped inside the wreckage.
Two people were seriously injured, with one of them transported to a local hospital by helicopter, according to local reports.
First responders encountered heavily damaged vehicles throughout the crash scene, including cars trapped beneath semi trucks.
Crews spent hours working through the wreckage and helping passengers get out safely while authorities dealt with the enormous number of vehicles blocking the interstate.
The scale of the collision also meant that clearing the roadway would take considerably longer than a typical crash.
I-95 Remained Closed for Hours
Traffic was stopped for hours as emergency crews worked to remove damaged vehicles and make sure passengers were accounted for.
Officials eventually called in tow companies from across South Carolina to help clear the massive wreckage.
The effort continued for much of the day as crews removed trucks, cars and other debris from the bridge.
The roadway was finally reopened on Friday, Oct. 2, after crews completed the extensive cleanup operation. The closure caused major disruptions for motorists traveling along one of the country’s busiest north-south interstate corridors.
Driver Recalls Terrifying Moments
Noah Mandel was traveling with his family toward Walt Disney World when they became caught in the pileup. Speaking with WIS, Mandel described the frightening moments after the crash began unfolding around them.
“You could see a car behind us just started to smoke and caught on fire. You could see other people in front were trapped in their cars, and you’re all just kind of wondering what to do next,” Mandel said. “It was definitely a thought in my mind of how lucky we were that no one went over the edge into the water.”
His comments highlight another major concern surrounding the crash: the location itself.
With the pileup occurring across a long bridge over Lake Marion, vehicles involved in the collision were dangerously close to the edge and the water below.
The extensive response ultimately allowed crews to rescue motorists, treat those seriously injured and begin the painstaking process of clearing the bridge.
Have you ever driven through extremely dense fog or been caught in a major highway pileup? Share your experience in the comments and let us know what you would do if visibility suddenly dropped while driving.
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