Icy Rain Causes SC Highway Death

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A winter storm that dropped freezing rain and a glaze of ice on South Carolina is being blamed for dozens of car crashes and at least one death.

Seventy automobile accidents were reported in Greenville County as a result of the January 25 storm.

And a driver in Easley was killed when his car skidded on deadly highway ice.

Bad weather is the cause of 11 percent of all auto accident fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

This is from The State:
Authorities blamed at least one death on Friday’s icy conditions. A man died in a wreck in Pickens County after his car hit a patch of ice on U.S. 123 in Easley.

Schools and government offices in the Upstate shut down early as sleet and freezing rain moved across the area. The Highway Patrol reported at least 70 wrecks in Greenville County in two hours as the first batch came through.

Sheriffs in York, Lancaster and Chesterfield counties reported a number of wrecks as the second round of freezing rain came through after sundown Friday.

Trees and power lines had a light glaze of ice, but only scattered power outages were reported.

You can reduce your chances of being injured or killed in a car wreck by observing these AAA winter driving tips:
* Avoid driving when tired.
* Make sure your tires are in good shape and properly inflated.
* Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
* Avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather.
* Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface.
* Slow down and steer where you want to go.
* Use your seat belt.

Source:
* The State http://www.thestate.com/2013/01/25/2604713/freezing-rain-expected-in-northern.html
* Statistic Brain http://www.statisticbrain.com/car-crash-fatality-statistics-2/
* American Automobile Association http://exchange.aaa.com/safety/roadway-safety/winter-driving-tips/

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