Coalition being formed in hopes of reducing traffic fatalities

Local police are forming a law enforcement team in hopes of reducing the number of traffic-related fatalities.

Cherokee County Sheriff Bill Blanton, Gaffney Police Chief John O'Donald, Blacksburg Police Chief Jamie Ham and S.C. Highway Patrol Capt. M.S. Wright met Tuesday at the sheriff's office to sign an agreement to form a coalition of officers.

The local agencies will be able to work together and issue citations throughout the county, regardless of jurisdiction, when the task force is operating. Officers outside their jurisdictions cannot write tickets unless they are working with the unit.

The traffic enforcement agreement is intended to reduce the number of fatalities and raise awareness among motorists about the most common causes of deadly crashes.

Wright, commander of the Highway Patrol Troop 4 which includes Cherokee County, said there have been 73 traffic-related fatalities involving 66 crashes in the past five years.

The top traffic violations resulting in fatalities are speed, alcohol, pedestrians, failing to yield the right of way to motorists and disregarding stop signs or signals.

Interstate 85 remains the most deadly roadway in Cherokee County with 14 deaths in five years, followed by highways 18, 29 and 5. April is the deadliest month to be on Cherokee County roadways with 11 traffic-related deaths during that month over the past five years, followed by December with nine deaths during the same period.

While there have been no traffic-related fatalities this year, according to S.C. Highway Patrol statistics, the trend during recent years has not been as good. By this time last year, there had been 10 deaths on Cherokee County roads. There were 24 fatalities during 2005.

The Highway Patrol includes in its statistics accident victims who die within three days of a traffic crash. Teresa Marie Jefferies, 46, of Gaffney, died in April after being hospitalized for more than two months following a Jan. 21 accident on Corinth Road.

The unit will be out during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, also a time when the S.C. Highway Patrol increases the number of patrols its operates.

The Highway Patrol is working with law enforcement agencies in all 46 South Carolina counties to form similar units.