Courtesy: Dr. Rajesh Vakani
LEXINGTON COUNTY (WACH, AP)-- A stretch of I-77 South is open again, following a 35-vehicle pileup that sent seven people to Columbia-area hospitals.
It all happened around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday near mile marker one in Lexington County, which is right before I-77 becomes I-26.
According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, a chain reaction of 11 crashes occurred, involving 35 vehicles.
Officials say the pileup began when one driver lost control of a car and other vehicles were unable to stop in time.
Troopers say one tractor trailer jacknifed, and another tractor trailer collided with it. At least one of the rigs then caught fire. At least one other vehicle also burned.
Seven people were taken to the hospital, all with non-life threatening injuries.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)