Top Three Most Dangerous Intersections in South Carolina

South Carolina saw 1,141 car accident deaths in 2022, according to the National Safety Council. South Carolina motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists suffered fatal crashes at a rate of 21.6 deaths per 100,000 state residents. 

All South Carolina roadways can be accident sites. In 2022, however, some roads were more dangerous than others:

• 347 people died, and over 15,000 were injured on secondary roads in South Carolina in 2022.
• 315 people died, and over 15,000 were injured on US highways in 2022.
• 280 people died, and over 12,000 were injured on SC highways in 2022.
• 102 people died, and nearly 4,000 were injured on interstate highways in 2022.

Some South Carolina roads and intersections are more dangerous than others. Here, we look at the top three most dangerous intersections in South Carolina and several other areas with higher crash risks. 

Ashley Phosphate Road and I-26

The intersection of Ashley Phosphate Road and I-26 is South Carolina’s second-most dangerous intersection and the most dangerous intersection in the Tri-County area. 

Between 2011 and 2015, the Ashley Phosphate Road/I-26 intersection saw a crash once every three days on average. In total, 629 vehicle collisions occurred at the intersection during the early 2010s.

According to Berkeley Charleston Dorchester Council of Government’s Traffic Counts for 2011- 2020 report, a total of 35,700 daily traffic counts was allocated for Ashley Phosphate Rd to the I-26 Connector for 2020. For 2023, US-52 to Ashley Phosphate Rd. experienced 114,100 daily traffic counts, while Ashley Phosphate Rd. to S. Aviation Ave had a total of 167,900. With the Charleston Airport nearby as well, this amount of traffic for the area still remains high. In a recent crash on October 10, 2024, the westbound lanes of I-26 were closed at Ashley Phosphate Road as police investigated a crash that claimed at least one life.

The intersection of Ashley Phosphate Road and I-26 can be challenging to navigate. The intersection is large, with stoplights spaced far apart. It can be difficult to tell exactly which stoplight applies to which lane – increasing the risk that a driver will turn or travel forward at the wrong time and cause a crash. Faded roadway markings also make it hard to tell which lanes are designated for turning or traveling through the intersection. Off ramps in both directions get daily backups onto the highway, creating additional risks for stopped drivers.

The many driveways and businesses in the area further increase the risk of a crash as drivers attempt to find a location, turn into or out of a driveway, and navigate the area. In 2022, driveway collisions claimed 88 lives and caused over 3,500 injuries to South Carolina motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. 

I-26 remains one of the most dangerous interstate highways in South Carolina. In 2022, 25 people died in collisions on I-26 or an adjacent ramp. Over 1,200 people suffered injuries in I-26 crashes that year. 

I-26 Exit 203 at College Park Road

I-26’s College Park Road exit saw 381 collisions between 2011 and 2015, making it the second most dangerous intersection in the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester County area and the ninth most dangerous intersection in the state of South Carolina. 

The BCDCOG report also revealed that US-17A to College Park Rd. had a total of 77,200 traffic counts for 2020. Also, from College Park Rd. to US-78, there were 109,600 traffic counts for 2023. This data reveals how congested and busy the area is. Recent crashes at this intersection include a collision between two North Charleston Police Department vehicles, which were pursuing a criminal suspect. The crash occurred on Halloween 2024. No injuries were reported, but the suspect’s decision to drive the wrong way in the eastbound lanes at the intersection greatly increased the risk of a serious accident in an already dangerous intersection. 

The intersection at I-26’s Exit 203 and College Park Road is dangerous for several reasons. One is the high risk of accidents associated with I-26 itself – risks that include the interstate’s entrance and exit ramps. 

Another risky feature of the College Park Road intersection is the fact that College Park Road features multiple lanes of traffic with no medians or dividers between opposing lanes. The lanes, including turn lanes, are not clearly marked. Drivers may become confused and end up in the wrong lane. A driver who tries to switch lanes to correct a mistake can also cause an accident. 

According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, dangerous collisions on roadways with medians are less common than crashes on roadways without medians. In 2022, only 15 median collisions resulted in death. Fewer than 800 such collisions caused injuries. By contrast, roadway collisions claimed 682 lives and caused over 40,000 injuries, including over 1,800 serious injuries. 

Two-way traffic with no median or other divider can be particularly dangerous. In 2022, these roadways were the site of 708 deaths, 1,536 serious injuries, and 26,215 other injuries in roadway crashes. 

U.S. 17-A and U.S. 176: Carnes Crossroads

The intersection of US 17-A and US 176 ranks third in the Tri-County area’s most dangerous intersections, logging 117 crashes between 2011 and 2015. 

As development in Carnes Crossroads continues, so does the risk of accidents. A project widening US 176 between US 17-A and the Nexton Parkway Extension, for example, may increase traffic flow, thus increasing the risk of a crash. Distracted drivers, intoxicated drivers, and those new to the area are at higher risk of causing a crash. The current road project is dangerous as well with narrow, one-way lanes in each direction, complete stops in traffic as drivers try to make left turns across the opposing lane, speeding, and distracted drivers. 

The US 17-A and US 176 intersection at Carnes Crossroads combines several factors that make navigating an intersection difficult. The intersection has only a small berm to separate opposing traffic rather than a full median. Cars can easily drive over the existing berm into opposing traffic. Traffic lights are small and spaced far apart, making them tougher to see. Rain, fog, and darkness can increase the difficulty of spotting the correct light for each lane. Faded lane markings and difficult-to-spot turn lanes with yield signs make it tougher for drivers to see where they should travel. Drivers speeding through red lights are also a common occurrence. 

The risk of a crash increases as an intersection becomes more complex. In 2022, four-way intersections like the one at US 17-A and US 176 saw 131 deaths, 515 serious injuries, and nearly 12,000 other injury types. 

Even straight, level crossings like Carnes Crossroads can be dangerous. The South Carolina Department of Public Safety determined that in 2022, “straight-level” roadway intersections were involved in 765 roadway deaths and over 42,000 roadway injuries. Drivers moving “essentially straight ahead” at intersections were the cause of 1,067 fatal collisions and 34,046 injury collisions in South Carolina in 2022.

Other Dangerous Intersections throughout South Carolina

A study published by The Sun News examined the most dangerous intersections in Myrtle Beach and throughout Horry County. The study found that Horry County had the second-highest rate of fatal auto accidents among South Carolina counties in 2022. 

In 2022, Horry County was the site of 78 fatal crashes that claimed 80 total lives, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety. Over 2,600 injury collisions also occurred in Horry County that year, causing over 4,300 injuries. 

Several intersections in Horry County ranked highly among South Carolina’s most dangerous intersections.

SC Highway 9 and SC Highway 57

The intersection of SC-9 and SC-57 recorded 16 injuries and 49 total collisions between 2020 and August 2024, making it Horry County’s most dangerous intersection for collisions. Concerns about safety at the intersection are rising, as are legislative responses to the issue, according to a WMBF news report.

In 2022, the SC-9 and SC-57 intersection was Horry County’s most dangerous intersection. A total of 86 crashes were recorded at this intersection in 2022, causing 37 injuries. 

SC-9 has also been the site of other serious intersection accidents. The Department of Public Safety data from 2022 places SC-9 in Horry County’s top five most dangerous roadways, with two recorded deaths and 188 recorded injuries. In April 2024, for example, a crash at the intersection of Hwy 9 and SC Highway 31 involved a vehicle rollover and the death of the vehicle’s driver.

Wright Boulevard and Church Street

Between 2020 and August 2024, the intersection of Wright Boulevard and Church Street racked up 37 total collisions. Seven of these collisions caused at least one injury. 

Wright Boulevard and Church Street are popular areas, particularly among students at Coastal Carolina University (CCU). The intersection was even temporarily closed this fall to accommodate the university’s Homecoming parade. University visitors, students and staff, and other travelers can all increase traffic at the Wright Boulevard and Church Street intersection, thus increasing collision risks. 

US 17 and Dick Pond Road

Third on the list of Horry County’s most dangerous intersections is the intersection at US-17 and Dick Pond Road. Between 2020 and August 2024, 36 vehicle collisions caused at least six total injuries. 

One such accident was a July 2024 crash that left six people injured, according to a report from WMBF News. At least one vehicle overturned as a result of the collision. Roadways were blocked as first responders provided medical care, secured the scene, and transported injured drivers and passengers to local hospitals. 

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in an intersection crash, talk to an experienced South Carolina car accident lawyer. The team at the Steinberg Law Firm can help. Schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation to learn more about your legal options and our services.