US 278 in South Carolina: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 86 fatal crashes on US 278 in South Carolina killed 92 people, the 19th most of 806 numbered roads in South Carolina. In 2024 there were 8 fatal crashes and 10 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 9 counties of South Carolina. All fatal crashes in South Carolina.
Deaths on US 278 in South Carolina by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 | 10 |
| 2023 | 4 | 4 |
| 2022 | 8 | 8 |
| 2021 | 11 | 13 |
| 2020 | 17 | 19 |
| 2019 | 6 | 6 |
| 2018 | 7 | 7 |
| 2017 | 12 | 12 |
| 2016 | 9 | 9 |
| 2015 | 4 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 278 in South Carolina: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Beaufort County had the most fatal crashes on US 278 from 2015 to 2024: 47, with 50 deaths. Beaufort, Aiken and Jasper counties together held 77% of fatal crashes on US 278 in South Carolina from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 93%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beaufort County | 5 | 47 | 50 |
| 2 | Aiken County | 1 | 10 | 13 |
| 3 | Jasper County | 1 | 9 | 9 |
| 4 | Allendale County | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| 5 | Barnwell County | 0 | 6 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on US 278 in South Carolina
86 fatal crashes on US 278 in South Carolina from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 4 pm to 5 pm; the worst month is March.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 3.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 5.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan9.3%
- Feb4.7%
- Mar15.1%
- Apr2.3%
- May7.0%
- Jun9.3%
- Jul10.5%
- Aug7.0%
- Sep7.0%
- Oct10.5%
- Nov8.1%
- Dec9.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 278 in South Carolina first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 51%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 22%, a pedestrian in 15%, a cyclist in 5.8%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 44 | 51% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 19 | 22% |
| Pedestrian | 13 | 15% |
| Cyclist | 5 | 5.8% |
| Other | 3 | 3.5% |
| Rollover | 2 | 2.3% |
| Parked vehicle | 0 | 0.0% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes on US 278 in South Carolina compare with the state
The largest difference from South Carolina: from 2015 to 2024, 48% of fatal crashes on US 278 in South Carolina were at or near an intersection, against 20% across South Carolina. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of South Carolina. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 86 crashes.
| US 278 | South Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 52% | 59% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 48% | 20% | above the South Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 29% | 37% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 24% | 32% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Speeding | 30% | 40% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 4.7% | 5.0% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 54% | 53% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.5% | 4.2% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 9.3% | 16% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 14% | 16% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes on US 278 in South Carolina
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 278 in South Carolina?
- 86 fatal crashes killed 92 people on US 278 in South Carolina from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 8 fatal crashes and 10 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 278 in South Carolina do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Beaufort County had the most fatal crashes on US 278 from 2015 to 2024: 47, with 50 deaths. Aiken County was second with 10.
Other roads in South Carolina with a page
- I-20
- I-26
- I-385
- I-77
- I-85
- I-95
- State Highway 11
- State Highway 14
- State Highway 19
- State Highway 20
- State Highway 28
- State Highway 291
All fatal crashes in South Carolina, with every road ranked.
Where the US 278 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 278 in South Carolina (filed under 12 spellings, such as "US-278", "US-278 BARNWELL HWY", "US-278 FORDING ISLAND RD", "US-278 GARNERS FERRY RD"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.