A massive multi-vehicle pileup involving dozens of cars and tractor-trailers shut down a stretch of Interstate 95 near Santee, South Carolina, Thursday morning amid dense fog, leaving one person airlifted and several others with minor injuries.
The crash occurred on the I-95 bridge over Lake Marion in Clarendon County near mile marker 100. South Carolina officials reported that roughly 50 vehicles, including 15 tractor-trailers, were involved, though early accounts placed the total closer to 40. Four people were trapped in wreckage and later freed by rescue crews. Santee Fire officials said one person was transported by helicopter, while several others with minor injuries were taken to a local hospital. The Clarendon County Coroner’s Office confirmed no deaths.
Video circulating from the scene shows a chaotic stretch of highway blanketed in fog, with crushed passenger vehicles jammed against guardrails and tractor-trailers. Debris, including a detached wheel and scattered personal items, littered the pavement. Responders in high-visibility gear moved between the wreckage as drivers stood outside damaged vehicles, including a black Audi and multiple SUVs. Visibility in the area dropped sharply; nearby weather observations recorded overcast skies and visibility of roughly a quarter-mile.
Southbound lanes remained closed for an extended period while crews cleared the wreckage and addressed a fire. Northbound lanes later reopened, though officials urged drivers to use caution near the scene. The South Carolina Department of Transportation established a detour beginning at mile marker 102 and advised motorists to avoid the area and seek alternate routes. Traffic backed up for miles as emergency responders worked to reopen the roadway.
Authorities have not issued a final determination on the cause. Dense fog was present at the time, and the FOX Forecast Center noted conditions that reduced visibility across the area. The South Carolina Highway Patrol said the investigation remains ongoing and that an extended closure of the southbound lanes was expected while cleanup continued.
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