Memorial Day highway deaths increase in SC in 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The number of fatalities on South Carolina roads this Memorial Day holiday weekend jumped significantly, in part because of an increase in motorcycle deaths.

The Highway Patrol reports 12 people died on the state’s roads from 6 p.m. Friday to midnight Monday, compared to eight during that same period in each of the past two years.

Six of the 2013 deaths were on motorcycles. Five of those deaths were in Horry County, where the Atlantic Beach Bikefest took place.

So far this year, 259 people have died on South Carolina roads, well below the 348 highway deaths reported to the same point in 2012.

Richland County reports the most deaths in 2013 with 25. Edgefield and Fairfield are the only counties not to report deaths so far this year.