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Tragedy on Columbia Road: Two deadly accidents in one week prompt calls for increased safety measures

Over the last week, five people have died in car accidents on Columbia Road in Orangeburg County.

ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. — A week ago, one person died in a car accident on Columbia Road (US-21) in Orangeburg County. Five days later, on that same road, four people lost their lives in a multicar wreck.

One of those victims was just nine years old.

Lance Corporal Brittany Glover with the South Carolina Highway Patrol said Columbia Road drivers should be extra cautious.

“We’re just urging motorists to drive the posted speed limit, which is 55. Also, with the yellow lines, pay attention to the yellow lines because it just goes back to the regular drivers ed – if your line is a dotted, then you can pass. If it’s a solid yellow line, then you cannot pass on your line.”

RELATED: 9-year-old girl dies in Orangeburg crash that killed four people

Sharon Moss lives in Orangeburg and has lost a loved one in a traffic accident on the same road.

“Well, my daughter's best friend in high school was in an accident on that road," Moss said. "They were just girls going home from school, and they got in an accident. Her best friend died, and two of the other girls ended up in the hospital with bad injuries.”

Moss said the recent accidents are a sign that something needs to be done regarding safety on Columbia Road. 

RELATED: Four dead after accident on US 21 in Orangeburg County

“It’s telling us something that we need to do something about," said Moss. "Maybe we do need to slow that traffic down. I don’t know if we can do it, but we need to do something.”

Glover said drivers should follow safety protocols, especially between Memorial Day and Labor Day, considered the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer. 

“So, one hundred deadly days of summer is where we see an increase in traffic fatalities," Glover said. "Of course, that’s around the Memorial Day so, like I said, we’re still urging motorists to drive the posted speed limit. If you get tired, you can go to a rest area, and if you have someone that’s in the car, you know just switch out just make sure that they have a valid driver license."

The latest accident is still under investigation by Highway Patrol.

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