Chain of accidents snarls traffic on I-85
By TIM GULLA Ledger Staff Writer tim@gaffneyledger.com

THE CHAIN of events began when two SUVs were involved in a crash, with this one striking a S.C. Department of Transportation camera pole ...

Gaffney Firefighters had to run about 100 yards from one accident to another when a series of crashes occurred on Interstate 85 within minutes Wednesday afternoon.

Before the messes were cleared, a half dozen cars were out of commission and traffic was snarled in both directions for more than an hour.

The pileups began when the driver of a northbound 1997 Ford Explorer towing a 2003 Kia Sorento, and the driver of a 2006 Kia Sorento all crashed off the side of Interstate 85 near the 93 mile marker.

The first SUV and the SUV it was towing jackknifed and ended up against the base of the Highway 150 bridge that spans the interstate, while the third SUV crashed into a South Carolina Department of Transportation camera pole and knocked it over.

Roughly 20 minutes after the first accident, the driver of a 1997 Toyota Tacoma truck headed south on Interstate 85 appeared to veer off the roadway into the grassy median, struck a guard rail, and flipped over before coming to rest in the passing lane of I-85 South, about a football field in distance from the first accident scene.

... AND THEN this vehicle veered off the road, struck a guard rail and overturned ...

Gaffney firefighters raced on foot to the second accident and helped the unhurt driver, identified in a fire department report as Andy Roberson of Forest City, N.C., out of the overturned vehicle.

With southbound traffic snarled by the overturned pickup, a third accident occurred about a half mile back when another pickup and a small passenger car were involved in a rear-end collision.

Amazingly, all of the people involved in the wrecks reported no injuries and declined medical treatment.

Full details of the accidents, including names and hometowns of all of the people involved, were pending receipt of accident reports from the S.C. Highway Patrol. The reports were not immediately available at press time.

At the very least, the chain reactions which occurred highlighted the dangers of highway wrecks, both for motorists and emergency responders, said Gaffney Fire Chief Nathan Ellis.

... AND THEN the driver, who appeared to be unhurt, was helped from the vehicle by rescue workers ...

"We try not to be out there any longer than we have to," he said.

Shutting down the interstates for a wreck often results in even more wrecks as traffic backs up.

... AND THEN about a half-mile away a pickup truck and another vehicle were involved in a collision.