Six-vehicle crash that closed U.S. 17 in Myrtle Beach area under investigation

A six-vehicle crash that closed a portion of U.S. 17 Bypass in Myrtle Beach for several hours remains under investigation, authorities said.

There were two separate crashes Wednesday afternoon in a close proximity to each other on U.S. 17 near Harrelson Boulevard, according to the S.C. Highway Patrol.

The first crash happened about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Shetland Lane, just north of Farrow Parkway, highway patrol officials said. All southbound lanes on U.S. 17 Bypass were closed for several hours because of that crash.

Cpl. Sonny Collins said the S.C. Highway Patrol's Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team was called to the six-vehicle crash so the road was closed for longer than a typical crash to allow those investigators to arrive.

There was a separate crash, which was north of the first crash, near Coastal Grand Mall that involved a Myrtle Beach police vehicle, Collins said. That crash happened about 6 p.m. Wednesday near Pine Island Road.

The officer was not seriously hurt in that crash, Myrtle Beach police Lt. Joey Crosby said.

Details about both crashes were not immediately available Thursday because the reports had not been filed, Collins said. Troopers have a window of time before they must file their reports.

No one was killed in the crashes, but several people were taken to local hospitals for treatment. Updates on their conditions were not available.

This story was originally published May 21, 2015 at 1:56 PM with the headline "Six-vehicle crash that closed U.S. 17 in Myrtle Beach area under investigation."