CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — Authorities now say one person has died in a crash that also injured five other people and a dog on I-77 in Chester County early Sunday.
According to Richburg Fire-Rescue, the crash happened around 2:15 a.m. near mile marker 66 on the southbound side of the interstate. Arriving crews discovered three vehicles, two of which had flipped and landed back on their wheels.
The department says that one of the vehicles had experienced some sort of mechanical problem and was hit by the other two. Authorities confirmed that one person in that first vehicle died.
Barricades were soon erected near exit 73 to SC 901 for Rock Hill and lanes remained closed until nearly noon.
This crash comes roughly a week after another fatal I-77 that happened not far from the same spot. That crash, which occurred after a truck crossed the median into oncoming traffic, killed four people, including three from Columbia.
Richburg Fire-Rescue urged that drivers use more caution in the area with so many lives lost in a relatively short period of time.
"In the last seven days, we have had seven fatalities in Chester County. Six of these have been on I-77," the agency wrote on its social media accounts.
The agency asked drivers to slow down and allow more distance between vehicles to prevent more tragedy - on this road or anywhere else.
The fire department thanked all the assisting agencies as well as the public who called in to check on the fire crews, offered to help and prayed for all who were impacted by the deadly crash.
"Please drive safely and always keep your focus on the road," the department concluded. "Life can be taken away so easily."
