Socastee Swing Bridge to remain closed for repairs following fatal collision

The Socastee Swing Bridge will remain closed to traffic for at least a week for repairs, the South Carolina Department of Transportation announced Tuesday.

On Monday morning, the Socastee Swing Bridge closed following a fatal collision. The victim, identified by the county coroner as 23-year-old Demeatrius Chandler, was heading west on Dick Pond Road when his car ran off the left side of the road, struck the bridge and fell into the Intracoastal Waterway.

Chandler was the only victim in Monday’s incident. His family has set up a GoFundMe for funeral expenses.

“Safety and mobility are a top priority for the agency,” Secretary of Transportation Christy A. Hall said in a release sent Tuesday afternoon. “To expedite repairs I have authorized an emergency contract for work on this historic bridge in the Socastee Community.”

The collision caused major damage to the bridge, including a section of the support structure, according to SCDOT.

Repair work will include removing and replacing the damaged section to make the bridge safe for traffic.

The state agency will coordinate with the U.S. Coast Guard to determine if the bridge can be opened for marine traffic, according to the release.

A signed closure and detour route has been put in place using SC-544, SCDOT stated in the release.

Another update is expected tomorrow evening.

This story was originally published June 13, 2023 at 1:38 PM.