Fatal Marion crash forces US 76 detour
Matt Robertson/scnow
A fatal crash between an 18 wheeler and a garbage truck forced a traffic detour in Marion County Thursday morning.
Published: October 8, 2009
Updated: October 8, 2009
MARION—For the second time in a week the main route from Florence to Myrtle Beach was shut down when South Carolina Highway Patrol officials investigated a fatal crash Thursday.
Marion County Coroner Jerry Richardson identified the latest victim as Darren Keith Murry, 36, of Hopkins.
Murray died Thursday when an 18-wheeler collided with a garbage truck in the east-bound lanes near Turner’s BP station.
Traffic was rerouted through an adjoining neighborhood while the clean-up and investigation took palce.
Thursday’s crash came a week after a four-car crash involving an 18-wheeler, a dump truck and two passenger vehicles on the US 76 bridge over the Great Pee Dee River killed two people and closed both sides of the road for 12 hours
In that crash, Multi-disciplinary Accident Investivation Team (MAIT) officials requested witnesses contact them to aid in their investigation.
“We can do all the enforcement in the world but we need drivers to do their part,“ South Carolina Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Sonny Collins said.
The road between Marion and Florence is one of the most heavily traveled in the area by local commuters and business traffic and is a favorite of computer mapping programs and GPS navigation units, Collins said.
“Highway 76 has always been one of our most highly visible roadways to see state troopers on because it’s a major route to Myrtle Beach,“ Collins said.
That enforcement focus will continue, Collins added.
“The drivers of these vehicles have to pay attention and not be distracted,“ Collins said.
The drivers also need to pay attention to speed limits, the trooper added.
“Until they do their part we may continue to see more collisions,“ Collins said.
Reader Reactions
Everyone posting.. You all are on the wrong page. Someone lost there lift yesterday due this accident. My heart goes out to the family of the driver. To my fellow collegue I hope he pull through this accident. When someone dies and you are involved your livelihood goes down the drain. So who cares if the troopers or any branch of law enforcement doing there job. You as a patriot should obey all traffic laws and look out for the other person. So to all who has stupid and non positive things to say. Go out in the road and stand in front of a 18 wheeler so we can post negative things about you…
And for the toes I stepped on.. I wear steel toed boots daily so I hope it hurts and much as the family members who are sad due to this death!
LLane- I do see troopers all the time on this road while driving to work. I have had troopers speak to my church so yes they care about safe driving, and like it or not this trooper is right. It is up to drivers. No one is a perfect driver but we have to be held responsible for what we do behind the wheel of our cars.
Pardon me, i must have hit the wrong button. Meant to say [LLane] you all got a lead foot too! Not to mention a lot of nerve if you actually clocked those troopers. Careful, one might conclude you are part of the problem.
Hey scarecrow…time x distance = speed
Scuse me suh, but how did you determine the HP were doing 94 and 88 mph? You gonna say to us that you clocked THEM? iF SO
One thing is for sure. Traffic flies through that bottleneck with total abandon for sanity. The area between the 4 lanes is cluttered with buildings [business]. The 45 mph speed limit is seldom adhered to. I refer to the area at the east end of the Pee Dee bridge. There is a fortune to be made there [fines]. Get to it.
Hey Sonny…What enforcement are you talking about? I have driven 840 miles on the roads of SC this week. I have yet to see one of your troopers enforcing any traffic laws. I did see one on I-20 Tuesday morning going 94 mph on wet roads. I also saw one today on I-26 going 88 mph texting on his cell phone. The SCHP is a joke when it comes to keeping our roads safe. Your own department doesn’t abide by the traffic laws. Why should we take you seriously?
I would like to thank Matt Robertson for posting his story. I also wanted to point out a couple of errors. What is “idetified?“ Did you mean “identified?“ You stated that the victim was from Hopkins. What state? Did you mean “Hopkins, SC?“ Also, in your third paragraph you stated “HOPKINS” died thursday. Did you mean Darren Keith Murry died Thursday? Please try to keep the information as correct as possible. Thanks
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