SCHP: Greenville County Leads State in Traffic Deaths

Greenville County leads the state in traffic deaths so far this year, according to the latest fatality report from the S.C. Highway Patrol.

Through Oct. 14, 46 people have died on the county's roadways, versus 44 deaths this same time last year.

Rounding out the top 5 counties, Charleston is second in deaths at 42, Lexington (41), Anderson (39), and Richland (38). The fatality count for Charleston and Anderson counties is down from this time last year, while Lexington's is identical to 2011. 

Richland County, which had 31 fatalities this time last year, has seen the biggest increase among the top 5.

Of the state's 46 counties, Florence has seen the greatest number increase in deaths from this time last year, from 16 to 25, while Sumter County has seen the greatest number decrease, from 21 to 9.

While Greenville County's numbs are up, they are down statewide, according to the SCHP.

As of October 14, 626 people have died on South Carolina highways, compared to 667 highway deaths in this same time period in 2011. 

Of the 412 motor vehicle occupants who have died in 2012, 237 were not wearing seat belts.  

Through midnight October 14, 83 pedestrians, 89 motorcyclists and 12 bicyclists have died on state roads and highways this year. 

Nine deaths statewide occurred this past weekend, according to the SCHP . 

Of those nine, three were motorcyclists, three were pedestrians and one was on a moped. Two were not wearing a seatbelt. 

See the SCHP report HERE.