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 any numbered road in South Carolina. In 2024 there were 8 fatal crashes and 10 deaths on the road.
An 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 4 | 4 |
| 2016 | 9 | 9 |
| 2017 | 12 | 12 |
| 2018 | 7 | 7 |
| 2019 | 6 | 6 |
| 2020 | 17 | 19 |
| 2021 | 11 | 13 |
| 2022 | 8 | 8 |
| 2023 | 4 | 4 |
| 2024 | 8 | 10 |
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. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beaufort | 5 | 47 | 50 |
| 2 | Aiken | 1 | 10 | 13 |
| 3 | Jasper | 1 | 9 | 9 |
| 4 | Allendale | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| 5 | Barnwell | 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
Too few crashes to name a heaviest slot. The grid shows the shares; a share is only given over 20 crashes.
| 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 crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 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 crashes | 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 crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 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
| 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
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of South Carolina. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| US 278 | South Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 52% | 59% | below the South Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 48% | 20% | above the South Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 29% | 37% | below the South Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 24% | 32% | below the South Carolina share |
| Speeding | 30% | 40% | below 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% | below the South Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 14% | 16% | below the South Carolina share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
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. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.