‘It was a disaster’: Aftermath of I-95 pileup brings attention to emergency access on Lake Marion bridge

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) - The wreckage from Thursday’s 69-vehicle pile-up on I-95 in Clarendon County may be gone, but the crash is bringing new attention to emergency access on the Lake Marion bridge.

Santee fire officials said dense fog contributed to the crash. Highway Patrol continues to investigate.

Driving across the reopened I-95 southbound lanes, marks and other reminders of Thursday’s pile-up are still visible.

“Some cars were totaled. You could see the whole front end gone,” said Craig Eppling, a Santee resident who witnessed the crash.

Those who lived through the crash said they were left shaken by the scene.

“There was sort of just that initial shock of what happened. I was definitely just shaken a little bit,” a crash victim said.

For first responders, including April Conyers with Clarendon County Fire Rescue, the scene was a challenge.

“It was a disaster. Something that we don’t see a lot,” Conyers said. “Actually was probably one of the largest multi-vehicle accident on 95 in Clarendon County.”

The crash unfolded on an aging bridge that has no emergency lanes. With traffic at a standstill, first responders had to park their vehicles and walk with heavy equipment to reach patients, including some who needed to be extricated from their smashed cars.

Conyers said it’s a blessing there were no fatalities on the scene.

“There was actually a vehicle on fire out there. A lot of us grabbed extinguishers and just continued to that area to try and put that fire out,” Conyers said. " I did not expect to leave there as humble as I was."

As everyone continues reflecting on the crash, some are raising concerns about the current emergency access to the bridge. A $430 million reconstruction project could be the answer to that.

The project will include emergency lanes. A South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) spokesperson said construction began in early Spring. Clearing and grubbing began in July, and crews are building a median needed for future traffic shifts.

Conyers says the new bridge will make a big difference in future emergencies.

“Having an area where we can travel would be a lot easier for us to get to it,” Conyers said.

Construction is expected to take around three years. SCDOT said the existing structures will continue to be regularly maintained and routinely inspected to ensure safety. Meanwhile, drivers who experienced the devastating crash are just starting their road to recovery.

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