South-Carolina

South Carolina is worst state in nation for drunk driving fatalities: What to know

Published

1 year ago

June 27, 2024

Press Room

South Carolina is worst state in nation for drunk driving fatalities: What to know

South Carolina has a serious problem.

In a recent study conducted by Simrin Law Group, the state was named the worst in the country for drunken driving. Drunken drivers in the state were accountable for 43% of all traffic fatalities. This percentage significantly exceeded the national average of 32%. The study used the latest National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data to determine the finding.

S.C. is not the only state in the South with the problem. In Texas, drunken driving made up 42% of traffic fatalities, while in New Mexico, it was 33%. Other Southern states also landed in the study’s worst 10 states for drunken driving, indicating a dangerous pattern in the region.

What states were in the top 10 for drunken driving? And what states had the least incidents? Here’s what to know.

Nearly half of SC’s fatal crashes involve alcohol

In the study, S.C. was determined the worst state for drunken driving in 2024, scoring 100 out of 100. Nearly half of the state’s fatal crashes involved alcohol, with 43% of traffic deaths due to drunken drivers. It also had 8.82 drunken driving deaths per 100,000 residents and 11.55 drunken drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers, two categories where it scored significantly higher than the national averages.

Greenville, Spartanburg lead SC in 2024 highway traffic deaths

The SC Department of Public Safety reported that Greenville County led the state in the most highway traffic deaths so far in 2024. Spartanburg was second. In Greenville, a total of 35 deaths were recorded between January and June 2. During that same time frame, Spartanburg recorded 25. Anderson County was fifth in the state with 16 fatalities. Larger population areas like Richland and Charleston counties, in comparison, had 18 and 23 traffic deaths respectively, according to a previous Greenville News story.

In 2022, Greenville led the state with 48 traffic deaths and 36 in 2021. Last year, Spartanburg County was in the lead with 31 fatalities.

S.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Mitch Ridgeway believes fast population growth and unsafe driving habits such as distracted driving, driving under the influence, and speeding are contributors to the rising numbers of fatalities.

“Things like impaired driving are very preventable typically in 2024 because there’s more information out now than ever on the dangers of impaired driving,” Ridgeway said in a previous Greenville News story. “There’s a lot of services out there now. … You can be responsible and have a designated driver planned if you decide to drink.”

Key findings in the study

∎ In 2022, 13,500 lives were lost due to drunken driving, while 32% of traffic fatalities nationwide were alcohol related.

∎ Southern states lead the nation when it comes to drunken driving problems. S.C., Texas, and New Mexico all had drunken driving fatality rates exceeding the national average, while other Southern states like Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama followed closely behind.

∎ Northeastern states like Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut consistently rank among states with the lowest drunken driving rates. Greater access to public transportation and stricter DUI laws are factors that may be contributing to this.

Utah has the least drunken driving incidents nationwide

In comparison to S.C., Utah traffic fatalities involving alcohol were 22% of all the state’s traffic deaths, lower than the national average of 32%. Residents who died in drunken driving accidents were 2.08 out of every 100,000, and 2.99 out of every 100,000 licensed drivers were involved in fatal drunken-driving crashes.

Top 10 states with the least drunken driving problems in 2024

∎ No. 1: Utah, 31.39 rating

∎ No. 2: New Jersey, 31.79

∎ No. 3: Massachusetts, 31.80

∎ No. 4: Minnesota, 36.22

∎ No. 5: New York, 36.68

∎ No. 6: Alaska, 36.78

∎ No. 7: Pennsylvania, 39.31

∎ No. 8: Michigan, 40.64

∎ No. 9: Wisconsin, 41.03

∎ No. 10: Hawaii, 41.47

Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com

Source link

Click to comment

South-Carolina

South Carolina Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Dec. 22, 2025

Published

9 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

South Carolina Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Dec. 22, 2025

The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 22, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

03-18-36-41-54, Powerball: 07, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

Midday: 7-1-1, FB: 2

Evening: 5-4-2, FB: 3

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

Midday: 2-4-1-3, FB: 2

Evening: 0-2-8-2, FB: 3

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

Midday: 11

Evening: 14

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

02-17-24-25-28

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

14-32-47-48-69, Powerball: 17

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:

For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.

Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.

SC Education Lottery

P.O. Box 11039

Columbia, SC 29211-1039

For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.

Columbia Claims Center

1303 Assembly Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.

For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.

When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Source link

South-Carolina

Dawn Staley adds pro player Alicia Tournebize to South Carolina roster for this season

Published

21 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Dawn Staley adds pro player Alicia Tournebize to South Carolina roster for this season

Alicia Tournebize, a 6-foot-4 basketball player from France, is enrolling at South Carolina and will begin playing for coach Dawn Staley this season.

The program announced the news on Dec. 22, explaining that she “will join the team following the holiday break and begin classes at the start of the spring 2026 semester.”

Tournebize, 18, played for Tango Bourges Basket, a professional basketball club in France. She was seen dunking in multiple games, according to social media.

The No. 3 Gamecocks (12-1) have played with at most 10 players but mostly eight or nine this season, battling illness and injuries. Staley lost star forward to an ACL tear Chloe Kitts in September.

South Carolina closes non-conference play on Dec. 28 (noon ET, SEC Network) before opening SEC play against Alabama on Jan. 1 (2 p.m. ET, SEC Network+).

“Alicia has an incredible skill set and basketball IQ,” Staley said in the news release. “She has great touch around the rim, can shoot it out to the 3-point line and is a shot blocker.”

Her mother Isabelle Fijalkowski played at Colorado and was drafted into the WNBA by the Cleveland Rockets where she played from 1997-98 before returning to play in Europe. Fijalkowski is getting inducted in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026.

Alicia Tournebize will play for South Carolina, Dawn Staley this season

Staley has been in need of depth long before the season officially started.

Ashlyn Watkins announced in July she’s taking the year off instead of returning and then not long after, Kitts got injured. Kitts enrolled early three years ago, joining the 2022-23 team in December 2022 like Tournebize is doing.

South Carolina signed two recruits out of high school already, Kaeli Wynn and Kelsi Andrews, but Staley said neither will enroll early so it appeared as though she would play a full season with only 10 players until now.

Tournebize will likely work her way into the lineup the same way Adhel Tac and Maryam Dauda have behind starters Madina Okot and Joyce Edwards. Edwards is leading the team with 22 points per game, Okot is averaging 15.6.

South Carolina sits 261st of 359 Division I teams in bench points, averaging 17.0 per game so if Tournebize brings offensive production, it’ll greatly enhance Staley’s depth during conference play.

On her visit, Tournebize went to the South Carolina football game on Nov. 22 with some players and then watched the women’s basketball game on Nov. 23 against Queens.

She sat behind the bench, similar to where Wynn sat during an exhibition game on her visit in October.

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky‪@bylulukesin.bsky.social‬

Source link

South-Carolina

South Carolina Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for Dec. 21, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 21, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

Evening: 7-2-5, FB: 4

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

Evening: 3-7-0-4, FB: 4

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

Evening: 14

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

08-15-23-27-33

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:

SC Education Lottery

P.O. Box 11039

Columbia, SC 29211-1039

Columbia Claims Center

1303 Assembly Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.

For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.

When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Source link