Socastee Swing Bridge reopens to traffic a week after fatal wreck

The Socastee Swing Bridge reopened to traffic June 19 after a week’s worth of repairs to the historic structure following a fatal wreck, state transportation officials said.

Officials got the bridge back online ahead of schedule. The S.C. Department of Transportation said Monday night the June 12 collision caused major structural damage, including to parts of its support system.

The bridge was shut down after a vehicle operated by 23-year-old Demeatrius Chandler Jr. ran through a barrier and plunged into the water. He was traveling westbound on Dick Pond Road at the time.

State transportation secretary Christy Hall authorized an emergency contract for repairs to begin hours after the wreck, saying in a statement that “safety and mobility” are among the agency’s top priorities.

An estimated cost for the repairs wasn’t immediately available.

Built in 1935, the bridge can pivot twice an hour to allow tall boats access in the Intracoastal Waterway.

This story was originally published June 19, 2023 at 7:14 PM.