South Carolina: Firefighter almost hit directing traffic

Oconee County Fire Chief Charlie King is asking drivers to pay better attention when navigating accident scenes.

King said emergency crews responded to a vehicle accident early Thursday afternoon on S.C. 11 near Walhalla High School. Firefighters found a tractor-trailer leaking diesel fuel after being struck by van that had fled the scene. County hazmat workers quickly contained the spill, according to King.

A firetruck at the scene was struck by another vehicle during the cleanup, despite being parked with its flashers blinking, and a firefighter directing traffic had to jump off the road to avoid being run over, King said.

King mentioned the late Sandy Springs firefighter Kenneth Stanton in his news release. Stanton, 52, was struck and killed on U.S. 76 earlier this year while directing traffic around an accident scene.

"We cannot stress how important it is for drivers to pay attention to the roadway and their surroundings while operating a vehicle," King said. "A team member in Oconee could have easily been injured or killed today, simply by a driver being distracted."

There were no injuries reported from either incident Thursday. West Union police found the van driver from the first wreck and turned the case over to the South Carolina Highway Patrol to be investigated.

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