Was the Roadway Itself the Cause of This Man’s Death?

A single vehicle accident in Polk County, NC killed one and shut down I-26 Eastbound overnight at the end of January. The accident happened near Saluda at 2:15 a.m., when Tony Joseph Hurst of Chapin, SC crossed the median and flipped his trailer on the interstate. Hurst was wearing a seatbelt, but died on the scene.

The accident was so severe that a crane was needed to remove the wrecked tractor-trailer. An attempt to move the wreck resulted in cargo being strewn across the interstate highway, and cleanup efforts continued into the next night.

Steep grades and sharp curves are dangerous

While the cause of the accident remains under investigation, Capt. Nicholas Edwards of the Saluda Fire Department told ABC News 13, “Don’t underestimate the terrain. With the grade being the steepest grade east of the Rockies, we see a lot of accidents out here, several are severe and result in fatalities similar to this one.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration has complex rules that dictate how steep a rise may be and what types of angles are allowed. While these guidelines are strictly adhered to, wear and tear over time can result in shifting and settling pavement, creating life-threatening conditions. Without proper maintenance, a useful roadway can become a deathtrap.

How bad roads hurt and kill

The Federal Highway Administration details the risks that badly designed roads can present. From their website;

“Speed differential on highways with steep grades can contribute to safety and operational problems.  Trucks and other heavy vehicles lose speed on steep, ascending grades and may be unable to reach full highway speed until they have passed the crest of the steep grade. Vehicles behind them are slowed, degrading operations at the least, and contributing to rear-end conflicts and in some cases risky passing maneuvers at the worst.  Truck drivers may also choose to descend grades at slower speeds to maintain better control of their vehicles.  Operations may be degraded for faster-moving vehicles from behind, creating an increased risk of rear-end crashes and risky passing maneuvers” (emphasis ours).

We write about the importance of fixing South Carolina’s transportation infrastructure all the time, but this accident highlights just how dangerous roads can be even when they are in good condition. We hope that this current legislative session’s focus on transportation infrastructure will start to provide relief, but in the meantime accidents happen every day all across our state.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car or truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. The experienced South Carolina truck accident attorneys at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC can evaluate your case and help get you the compensation you deserve. We serve all of South Carolina; contact us today for a free consultation.