Emergency response worker hit on South Carolina interstate

SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – A State Freeway Emergency Program (SHEP) employee is recovering after being hit by a automobile on Interstate 85 in Spartanburg County Wednesday morning.

In line with South Carolina Freeway Patrol, the employee was standing exterior of his work car round 7:30 a.m. Wednesday when he was struck by a car.

Trooper stated it occurred on I-85 southbound close to mile marker 75, which is the Boiling Springs exit.

In line with SCDOT, the employees’ duties include serving to individuals whose autos are experiencing mechanical points, present help throughout incidents, even cease to scrub up highway particles.

Legislation enforcement companies stated incidents like this, sadly, will not be unusual. They stated it’s a significant concern for first responders and people who work in roadside help.

“Generally we’ve our minds set and our give attention to the person who we’re coping with and it turns into what we name tunnel imaginative and prescient,” stated Chief Shandrell Holcombe with the Duncan Police Division.

Chief Holcombe has spent years in regulation enforcement. He informed 7NEWS there have been too many shut calls.

“There are automobiles coming by you to the purpose the place you may really feel the vibration of a car when it goes by,” stated Holcombe. “Many individuals don’t actually listen. They don’t suppose they’re doing something unsuitable.” 

He stated it’s a priority for all roadside responders.

“It’s very alarming and it’s very regarding,” stated Holcombe. “Usually instances individuals don’t have a look at the entire image. Emergency autos being a police automobile, an ambulance, a fireplace truck, additionally even tow truck drivers; they’re emergency autos additionally with their flashing gentle on. You might be to maneuver over. It’s a regulation and you’re required to maneuver over to a different lane if you happen to have a lane and the power to.”  

Beneath present state regulation, drivers are required to maneuver over when passing emergency autos. If they’re unable to, they need to decelerate.

“When there’s a car on the aspect of the highway that’s having some work completed on it, or there’s an emergency unit engaged on somebody, or police have somebody pulled over, or fireplace is pulling over to place out a fireplace, then that velocity must be lowered to about half to permit your self to soundly cross that,” Holcombe stated.

The crash is leaving roadside staff hoping individuals will hear.

“You by no means need to hear of anybody being harm whereas they work,” stated Holcombe. “We hope and pray that he’s going to be okay.” 

Freeway Patrol stated the employee was taken to the hospital following the crash.

The crash precipitated a prolonged backup and was cleared shortly earlier than 11:00 a.m.

The crash stays below investigation by South Carolina Freeway Patrol’s Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Crew.