West Columbia, SC (Paul Kirby) – A dump truck that was travelling on I-26 east toward Charleston left the interstate, crashed through the fencing, and came to a stop blocking the frontage road early Tuesday. Fire and medical units responded from Lexington County and the City of West Columbia.
First responders and law enforcement officers were dispatch around 6:25 a.m. Callers reported that they had seen a truck hit the center barrier and then shoot off into the wood line. The first equipment was dispatched onto the interstate, but some resources were eventually redirected to Orchard Drive, the frontage road to I-26 near the 110-mile marker. When they arrived, they found an injured driver and a fuel tank punctured with diesel leaking from it. Lexington County notified DHEC about the fuel and the fire service hazardous material truck responded to try and plug the leaking fuel tank. Orchard was eventually opened later Tuesday.
Motorist were urged to detour and travel at a reduced speed in that area. The SCHP has not released a cause of the accident and the driver's condition is unknown.
