Dayna Akers is all too familiar with the frequent traffic accidents that plague Beaufort County. Her four-year-old son, however, still believes cars are nearly indestructible—a belief that was shaken on July 24. While on their way to daycare, they witnessed the aftermath of a serious two-car collision at the intersection of Parris Island Gateway and Savannah Highway, where one vehicle was wrapped around a telephone pole. As Akers comforted her son, she couldn’t help but think how easily it could have been them.
“I’ve never lived anywhere with this many accidents,” Akers noted. “When a day goes by without a Nixle report, I feel like celebrating.”
With Beaufort County’s population growing, the increase in vehicles on the road has led to a significant rise in traffic incidents. Data from South Carolina’s Department of Public Safety (SCDPS), analyzed by the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette, reveals that between January 1, 2020, and June 16, 2024, there were 15,489 traffic accidents in the county, resulting in 103 deaths and 6,314 injuries. By mid-June this year, there have already been 13 fatalities and 633 injuries, suggesting that 2024 could surpass previous years in terms of accidents and casualties if the current trend continues.
In response to a request from The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette, SCDPS provided detailed data on the Top 10 most hazardous intersections in Beaufort County from the past four years, ending July 22, 2024. The data shows a total of 1,432 traffic accidents at these intersections, leading to two fatalities and 35 serious injuries. The number of collisions rose from 220 in 2020 to a high of 365 in 2022, with serious injuries also increasing from four in 2020 to 12 in both 2021 and 2022. Although the total number of accidents in 2023 remained high at 356, serious injuries dropped to four. However, fatalities have remained steady, with one death reported both in 2023 and the incomplete data for 2024. So far in 2024, there have been 182 collisions and three serious injuries.
Several intersections have consistently shown high collision rates and continue to be problematic in 2024. Akers, a business consultant who frequently drives across the county, regularly navigates through many of these dangerous intersections. Her biggest concern is the intersection of Parris Island Gateway and Robert Smalls Parkway, which has consistently ranked among the Top 2 most dangerous intersections in the county since 2020.
“People seem to be in such a hurry and often lose their temper,” Akers observed. “I wish everyone would slow down and realize that arriving safely is more important than getting there quickly.”
Between 2020 and 2024, the intersection of Parris Island Gateway and Robert Smalls Parkway recorded the most collisions, with 267 incidents. Fording Island Road and Buckwalter Parkway had the highest number of severe injuries, with eight people seriously hurt, while Squire Pope Road and Fording Island Road, along with Buckwalter Parkway, each reported one fatality. Another high-risk intersection is Bluffton Road and Bluffton Parkway, with a total of 240 collisions, peaking at 65 in 2022.
Okatie Highway and West Fording Island Road have also been a significant concern, with 79 accidents recorded since 2020. Ongoing construction in the area, scheduled for completion in October, aims to improve traffic flow and safety.
Top 10 Most Hazardous Intersections in 2024 (as of July 22):
- Bluffton Rd & Bluffton Pkwy
- Parris Island Gtwy & Robert Smalls Pkwy
- Squire Pope Rd & William Hilton Pkwy
- Mathews Dr & William Hilton Pkwy
- May River Rd & Okatie Hwy
- US Primary-0021 & US Primary-0021
- Palmetto Bay Rd & Point Comfort Rd
- Fording Island Rd & Buckwalter Pkwy
- Boundary St & Greenlawn Dr
- Broad River Rd Blvd & Parris Island Gtwy
Top 10 Most Hazardous Intersections in 2023:
- Parris Island Gtwy & Robert Smalls Pkwy
- Bluffton Rd & Bluffton Pkwy
- US Primary-0021 & US Primary-0021
- Squire Pope Rd & William Hilton Pkwy
- Lady Island’s Dr & Sam’s Point Rd
- Savannah Hwy & Robert Smalls Pkwy
- Mathews Dr & William Hilton Pkwy
- Buck Island Rd & Fording Island Rd
- Palmetto Bay Rd & Point Comfort Rd
- Okatie Hwy & West Fording Island Rd
Top 10 Most Hazardous Intersections in 2022:
- Parris Island Gtwy & Robert Smalls Pkwy
- Bluffton Rd & Bluffton Pkwy
- US Primary-0021 & US Primary-0021
- May River Rd & Okatie Hwy
- Palmetto Bay Rd & Point Comfort Rd
- Fording Island Rd & Buckwalter Pkwy
- Mathews Dr & William Hilton Pkwy
- Squire Pope Rd & William Hilton Pkwy
- Okatie Hwy & West Fording Island Rd
- Bluffton Rd & Fording Island Rd
Top 10 Most Hazardous Intersections in 2021:
- Parris Island Gtwy & Robert Smalls Pkwy
- Bluffton Rd & Bluffton Pkwy
- Okatie Hwy & West Fording Island Rd
- May River Rd & Okatie Hwy
- Simmonsville Rd & Bluffton Pkwy
- Fording Island Rd & Buckwalter Pkwy
- US Primary-0021 & US Primary-0021
- Fording Island Rd & Simmonsville Rd
- Squire Pope Rd & William Hilton Pkwy
- Mathews Dr & William Hilton Pkwy
Top 10 Most Hazardous Intersections in 2020:
- Bluffton Rd & Bluffton Pkwy
- Parris Island Gtwy & Robert Smalls Pkwy
- Squire Pope Rd & William Hilton Pkwy
- Mathews Dr & William Hilton Pkwy
- May River Rd & Okatie Hwy
- US Primary-0021 & US Primary-0021
- Palmetto Bay Rd & Point Comfort Rd
- Fording Island Rd & Buckwalter Pkwy
- Broad River Rd Blvd & Parris Island Gtwy
- Boundary St & Greenlawn Dr
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