Conway SC companies sued after motorcyclist dies in construction zone accident
Two Conway road construction companies are being accused of contributing to the death of a motorcyclist in a lawsuit filed by his daughter.
Keona Squires has accused Palmetto Corp. and Carolina Pavement Markings, both in Conway, of not providing proper installation, maintenance and adequate temporary safety measures along Highway 57, which caused an accident between her father, Buddy Squires, and an employee of Carolina Pavement Markings, the lawsuit filed Oct. 13 said.
A message left Oct. 20 with Palmetto Corp. was not immediately returned. A phone number for Carolina Pavement Markings did not allow for a message to be left, but an email sent was not immediately returned Oct. 20.
Squires’ attorney was out of town and could not be reached when contacted Oct. 20.
Squires was riding his trike motorcycle north on Highway 57 on Oct. 10, 2022, and was following other vehicles in the lane of the construction zone. The lane had no safety signage, lighting, flaggers or cones or barrels directing traffic to not travel in that lane, the suit claims.
During that time, an employee of Carolina Pavement Markings drove a vehicle into Squires’ lane, going the wrong way, and collided with Squires, the suit said.
Squires suffered serious bodily injuries and was bedridden for more than 21 days, “fighting for his life,” the suit said. He died from his injuries on Nov. 2, 2022.
South Carolina Department of Transportation awarded on March 25, 2021, a more than $3.7 million contract to Palmetto Corp. to perform construction and resurfacing on a portion of S.C. 57 and S.C. 111 in Horry County, according to the suit.
Palmetto Corp. provides roadway construction and pavement. Carolina Pavement Markings, which provides roadwork lane demarcation, painting and marking in roadway construction projects for new construction, was hired by Palmetto Corp., the lawsuit said.
The portion of Highway 57 had an excess of 15,600 vehicles per day and the section of the road was continuously being used by motorists during the period of construction, the suit said.
The suit claims the companies failed to abide by SCDOT’s safety laws and industry standards, adding “each had a duty to use reasonable care in having adequate safety measures in place in order to keep motorists safe during the construction.”
The suit alleges negligence and is asking for a jury trial.
