Two Critically Injured in Loris Dump Truck Accident
The collision occurred on East Highway 9 near Cedar Branch Road, trapping occupants inside the wreckage
Two people were critically injured Wednesday in a crash between a dump truck and another vehicle on East Highway 9 near Cedar Branch Road in Loris, Horry County Fire Rescue said.
The crash happened around 10:30 a.m., according to authorities. Firefighters pulled the two people from the wreckage.
Paramedics rushed both victims to a hospital with critical injuries. Their identities were not released.
The crash blocked the Little River-bound lanes of East Highway 9.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. The Loris Fire Department is assisting troopers.
What happens next in the Highway 9 dump truck investigation?
Victims of commercial vehicle crashes often face a long road to recovery, dealing with severe pain and mounting medical bills.
"In addition to the diligent work of law enforcement, an attorney can re-interview important witnesses, analyze any surveillance video from the scene of the crash, and obtain phone and texting records of the liable party. Time is of the essence in cases such as this one, and the victim’s family must ensure that evidence is reviewed efficiently." said Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal. "A fully loaded truck needs over five hundred feet to come to a halt, which is nearly two full football fields."
While the South Carolina Highway Patrol works to determine liability, commercial trucking companies often deploy their own investigators to the scene immediately.
How do commercial regulations factor into the Loris crash?
A crash of this magnitude affects not just the victims, but the broader community that relies on safe local roadways.
"I've seen families blindsided by the news of a semi-truck collision," said Stefano Formica, of Counsel at Bond Legal. "Federal rules don't allow more than eleven hours of driving, yet electronic logs often reveal drivers were pushed past their limits."
South Carolina follows a modified comparative fault (51% bar) system. The statute of limitations is three years.
Damages include economic and non-economic losses.