A multi-vehicle crash on eastbound Interstate 26 in Spartanburg County turned fatal Friday morning, shutting down all lanes near mile marker 31 as troopers and coroner's investigators descended on the scene. The wreck snarled traffic for commuters on one of the Upstate's busiest arteries during the early morning rush.
According to FOX Carolina, troopers responded to the fatal crash Friday, with reporter Margaret-Ann Carter covering the response for the station. As reported by WYFF, the crash occurred near mile marker 31 and involved multiple vehicles, prompting a response from the Spartanburg County Coroner's Office along with total closure of the eastbound lanes while crews and crash investigators worked the scene.
What Remains Unknown
The exact cause of the crash, the total number of vehicles and victims involved, and the identities of anyone killed had not been released as of Friday morning. The report did not provide additional information about how victim identities would be handled or when next of kin would be notified.
The supplied reports describe troopers and crash investigators working at the scene, without detailing which agency had primary investigative responsibility or what documents investigators completed. Under South Carolina Code Section 56-5-1270, officers who investigate a crash resulting in injury or death must submit a formal written collision report to the Department of Motor Vehicles, as outlined by the Steinberg Law Firm. If troopers do not conduct an on-scene investigation, the same statute requires drivers involved to file form FR-309 with the DMV within 15 days or risk having their vehicle registration and/or driving privileges suspended.
A Dangerous Stretch of Highway
Interstate 26 passes through Spartanburg County, and the lane closure near mile marker 31 affected traffic in the region.
The article does not provide verified traffic-fatality totals for Spartanburg County, neighboring Upstate counties, or South Carolina.
Friday's crash comes just weeks after a violent head-on crash tied to an armed robbery and police chase near an I-26 on-ramp, according to Hoodline. Earlier this month, the article also referenced another severe crash in the county.
State Efforts to Reduce Collisions
The article does not provide sourced details about South Carolina Department of Transportation corridor-improvement or widening projects, or their purposes.
No further details on the cause of Friday's crash, the number of people involved, or victim identities had been released as investigators continued their work at the scene.
