Fog-Triggered I-95 Pileup in South Closes Lanes for 20 Hours

Key points

• The incident occurred before 9 a.m. Thursday on I-95 in Orangeburg and Clarendon counties, specifically on a bridge over Lake Marion.
• Dense fog drastically reduced visibility, leading to a chain-reaction crash involving 15 18-wheelers and 54 other vehicles.
• Four people were trapped in their vehicles, and approximately 11 suffered minor injuries; one individual was airlifted to a hospital.
• All lanes were blocked from mile markers 97.5 to 102, with southbound lanes remaining closed for extended cleanup operations.
• The roadway fully reopened around 6 a.m. Friday after crews worked for over 20 hours to clear the wreckage.

Background

This incident follows a pattern of severe weather-related traffic disruptions on major interstates. Our archive notes similar fog-induced pileups on I-95 in South Carolina earlier this month, highlighting the recurring risks of dense fog on bridges over Lake Marion. The current event mirrors those previous incidents in terms of vehicle count, injury profiles, and the extended duration of cleanup operations.

How outlets are covering it

Live5News reported the crash involved 50 cars and 15 18-wheelers, with 11 minor injuries and four entrapments, noting the roadway reopened by 6 a.m. Friday. WIS News 10 reported a higher total of 69 vehicles (15 trucks and 54 cars), emphasized the dense fog as the primary cause, and noted one person was airlifted by helicopter with unknown condition. WYFF initially reported 40 vehicles involved but later confirmed the southbound lanes were closed for an extended period, with northbound lanes reopening earlier. The outlets differ slightly on the total vehicle count (50 vs. 69) and the specific injury details, but all agree on the fog cause, the involvement of 15 18-wheelers, and the extended closure of southbound lanes.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the critical dangers of dense fog on major interstate bridges, particularly over bodies of water like Lake Marion. The extended closure of I-95, a major transportation corridor, significantly impacts regional and national traffic flow, underscoring the need for improved weather monitoring and driver awareness in such conditions.

What to watch

Authorities are expected to continue monitoring traffic patterns in the area and may issue further advisories for drivers. Investigations into the cause of the crash, focusing on the fog conditions and driver response times, are likely to proceed. No further immediate actions are expected as the roadway has reopened.