News Summary

A serious accident on the bridge to Hilton Head Island led to significant traffic delays on Friday. The left eastbound lane of U.S. 278 was closed for over half an hour following the crash, causing rush-hour backups over 7 miles. Tragically, a separate fatal crash occurred early Saturday, involving a Mini Cooper that veered off the road, resulting in the driver’s death. Additionally, a canine passenger jumped off the Broad River Bridge during the collision but was safely rescued. Ongoing traffic issues were reported due to further incidents on Tuesday morning.

Hilton Head Island

A crash on the bridge leading to Hilton Head Island on Friday afternoon resulted in significant traffic delays and a fatal accident.

Key Details of the Crash

• The accident occurred around 2:50 p.m., shutting down the left eastbound lane of U.S. 278 near Windmill Harbor.
• The left lane was reopened around 3:30 p.m. after a vehicle was towed from the scene.
• By 4 p.m., traffic slowdowns extended approximately 7 miles, starting near the Tanger 1 Outlets and dissipating at the island’s entrance.
• Significant rush-hour delays were expected, impacting local commuters and attendees of the RBC Heritage golf tournament in Sea Pines.

Fatal Accident Details

Another fatal incident occurred early Saturday morning.

• At approximately 2:45 a.m., an unidentified driver died when their Mini Cooper collided with a tree near the entrance to Hilton Head Island.
• The vehicle veered off the left side of the road, struck a tree, overturned, and caught fire.
• The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, with their identity not released pending contact with relatives.
• U.S. 278 and Squire Pope Road is noted as a dangerous intersection, with over 100 collisions in less than five years.

Unrelated Incident Involving a Canine

On the same day of the bridge crash, a canine passenger jumped off the Broad River Bridge during a collision.

• The incident occurred around 2:55 p.m..
• Witnesses reported that the dog jumped into the water, likely startled by the crash.
• A driver from the collision jumped in to assist the dog back to shore.
• One person sustained minor injuries and was transported to the hospital.
• Emergency water rescue crews were dispatched but canceled after both the man and the dog reached safety.

Ongoing Traffic Issues

On Tuesday morning, traffic delays were reported again due to a separate collision.

• A crash around 7:30 a.m. briefly blocked the left lane of U.S. 278.
• Backups reached from the Tanger 2 Outlets in Bluffton to Windmill Harbor, but no significant injuries were reported.

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Additional Resources

• Island Packet: Fatal Accident on U.S. 278
• Wikipedia: Hilton Head Island
• Island Packet: Traffic Delays on Hilton Head Bridge
• Google Search: Traffic Incidents Hilton Head Island
• Island Packet: Canine Incident in Hilton Head
• Google Scholar: Traffic Safety Hilton Head
• Island Packet: Ongoing Traffic Issues on U.S. 278
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Traffic Accident

Author: STAFF HERE HILTON HEAD

The HILTON HEAD STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREHiltonHead.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the RBC Heritage golf tournament, Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival, and the Gullah Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, plus leading businesses in tourism and hospitality that power the local economy such as Sea Pines Resort and Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAiken.com, HEREBeaufort.com, HEREChapin.com, HERECharleston.com, HEREClinton.com, HEREColumbia.com, HEREGeorgetown.com, HEREGreenwood.com, HEREGreenville.com, HEREHiltonHead.com, HEREIrmo.com, HEREMyrtleBeach.com, HERENewberry.com, HERERockHill.com, and HERESpartanburg.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.