Orangeburg County, SC (WLTX) - All lanes are now open and traffic is flowing again on Interstate 26 in Orangeburg County following a fatal collision involving a tractor-trailer caused major damage to a bridge on Friday.
Troopers say the big rig was in the eastbound lanes when it ran off the road, went into the roadway, and struck a bridge along mile marker 153, a mile from the Highway 301 exit, Friday morning. The driver was later pronounced dead. He's been identified by the coroner's office as 46-year-old Travis Hall of Wagener.
Lanes on the westbound side of the interstate were cleared and washed after portions of the bridge were demolished Friday night. Barricades were also pulled to allow for the flow of traffic.
Eastbound lanes were reopened Sunday morning after crews removed the final two bridge spans throughout Saturday night.
The view on Sunday morning, March 11, 2018, after crews finished removing the Four Holes Road Bridge crossing I-26 in Orangeburg County. The bridge was damaged Friday morning after a tractor-trailer hauling gravel left the roadway and crashed into a bridge column. Traffic is flowing normally in both directions now. (Video by Rob Thompson/SCDOT)
The next phase will be a long-term replacement for the bridge. The SCDOT will have to take bids on that project, so it could take some time before the structure is rebuilt.