Bluffton Teen Tragically Dies After Getting Hit by Pickup Truck

A pedestrian accident attorney in South Carolina explains what you should know

In the Lowcountry, people are mourning the death of a Bluffton High School student who recently died in a tragic motor vehicle vs. pedestrian crash.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol says the 14-year-old Bluffton boy died in August 2021 after being struck by a pickup truck. The boy was walking on May River Road near Buckwalter Parkway, a little after midnight on a Thursday when the fatal incident happened. According to local media, the teen died at the scene. The driver of the Dodge pickup truck that allegedly hit the boy was not injured.

The fatal wreck is under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol. As of mid-September 2021, no charges had been filed.

In South Carolina, many serious and fatal pedestrian accidents happen every year. And while nothing can replace a loved one, it's important to remember that victims have recourse through the civil justice system.

Pedestrian accident hotspots in Beaufort County & South Carolina

Pedestrians in South Carolina are at a heightened risk for fatal accidents, according to national data. About 15% of the state's fatal car accident victims are pedestrians. Overall, South Carolina has one of the higher pedestrian fatality rates in the nation with more than 2.5 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people. At last count, the national average is 1.1 deaths per 100,000.

Beaufort County and the Islands have their own pedestrian crash hotspots where fatal accidents have happened over the last five years or so. The average is about 22 fatal crashes per year. Locally, fatal pedestrian accidents tend to happen at intersections with major routes, including US-21, US-17, SC-116, and SC-170. Among the crossroads that have seen recent deadly crashes with people on-foot are:

US-21 Trask Parkway at Laurel Bay Road, Geiger Boulevard (SC-116)
US-21 Trask Parkway at Shanklin Road
Laurel Bay Road (SC-116) at Stanley Farm Road, Bay Pines Road
Robert Smalls Parkway (SC-170) at Parris Island Gateway (US-21)/ SC-280), Copeland Drive
Charleston Highway (US-17) Sheldon area on- and off-ramps
Sea Island Parkway (US-21) Gay Drive, Dow Road

Common crash factors

Pedestrians aren't just walkers. This category also includes people on skateboards, roller skates, strollers, scooters, wagons, and wheelchairs, among other modes of transportation.

Measuring pedestrian risk at specific locations can be tricky, federal researchers say. However, some common factors of fatal pedestrian crashes are apparent. Deadly pedestrian crashes frequently involve:

High speed
Poor links to transit and lack of safe, complete pedestrian networks
Bad weather
Urban principal arterial or minor arterial roads
Darkness, lack of proper street lighting
SUVs and light trucks (because it can be harder to see a pedestrian in front of a taller vehicle)
Alcohol (on either the part of the pedestrian or driver)

Legal help is available for injured pedestrians

When someone dies due to the negligence of others, it is important that the at-fault party is brought to justice and held accountable for their actions. At our law firm, we take your injuries seriously and always advocate for the compensation you deserve. That's because attorneys Karl D. Twenge and J. Ashley Twombley truly care about their clients. We may be a small law firm, but we know how to deliver big results.