Driver in fatal I-26 wreck identified, DOT provides updates on road conditions
ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WOLO)- A fatal accident that happened this morning on I-26 is still affecting traffic this evening. Traffic was a mess most of Friday after troopers said a tractor trailer traveling into Orangeburg veered off the road.
“We had a single vehicle collision with an 18-wheeler. Happened approximately this morning at 10:03 a.m. The vehicle was traveling East when he went into the median and struck the bridge,” said Lance Cpl. Judd Jones.
Coroner’s identified the driver as 46-year-old Travis Hall of Wagener. Hall was pronounced dead at the scene.
Department of Transportation (DOT) crews said there is substantial damage to bridge as a result of the accident affecting miles of roadways as a result.
“We have been able to maintain the traffic heading eastbound towards Charleston on I-26. So we think we are going to be able to maintain that traffic over the next few days,” said DOT District 7 Engineering Administrator Kevin Gantt.
“The westbound has been closed and we are going to have to remove two interior spans of the bridge and one bent that supports those spans. Hopefully, we start that work as early as this evening,” Gantt said.
Travis Hall, 46. Source: Facebook
Though troopers are working to get I-26 back to normal as soon as possible, they said getting the road by that bridge to reopen is another story. “Four Holes secondary 50, right now that road is closed and will remain closed not just until we secure the bridge but further until we can do a construction project to replace those bandaged spans over the bridge so local traffic will have to be rerouted. That could be a few months, maybe even longer,” said Gantt.
DOT hopes to have the emergency support work for the bridge finished by Sunday.
