Weekend roadway deaths in South Carolina leave three dead; Bamberg spared

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety reported that three people were killed on state roadways during the weekend from Friday, Jan. 9 at 6:00 p.m. through Sunday, Jan. 11 at 11:59 p.m. The agency described the figures as preliminary, compiled through 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 11, 2026, and advised confirmation of fatality details through the appropriate county coroner’s office.

Statewide, the preliminary total of traffic deaths from Jan. 1 through Jan. 11, 2026 stands at 14, down from 28 during the same period in 2025 and lower than the first-11-day totals in 2024 and 2023. Bamberg County registered zero traffic fatalities in the Jan. 1–11 reporting window for 2026, compared with one fatality in that span in 2025.

The SCDPS release notes that the department includes the Highway Patrol, State Transport Police, Bureau of Protective Services, Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame, and that its mission is to ensure public safety by protecting and serving residents and visitors. For local questions or community coordination, the release lists the Highway Patrol Community Relations Officer at 803-896-8144 and provides the Blythewood office address.

The bulletin also announced that Real-Time Traffic is no longer available and directed motorists to the South Carolina Department of Transportation’s 511 site at 511sc.org for traffic and road information. Local officials and road users should note that traffic reporting shifts to SCDOT’s systems for closures, construction notices and travel conditions.

For Bamberg County leaders and residents, the preliminary absence of fatalities through Jan. 11 is a data point for local safety planning rather than a reason for complacency. The county’s zero count in early January contrasts with neighboring counties and the statewide total; that pattern can inform sheriff’s office enforcement priorities, county council discussions about road maintenance budgets, and outreach efforts by local school districts and civic groups around seat-belt use and safe driving.

Residents wanting immediate information or to raise road-safety concerns should contact the Highway Patrol community relations officer at 803-896-8144 or consult SCDOT’s 511 site. SCDPS will issue further updates as investigations conclude; community attention to roadway conditions and participation in local planning will shape how Bamberg County responds in coming weeks.