Posted by yougogirl78 on March 27, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Just made it to Leeds Avenue area around 9:15 - Left my house off of Ashley Phosphate around 7:15. Thanks!!!

Posted by Zod on March 27, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

9:45 - Traffic is standing still in Goose Creek.

Posted by seriouslyb4real on March 27, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

freaking idiots on cell phones make accidents like this.

Posted by dixie on March 27, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

yougogirl: It was an accident. Do you think these people wanted to be in an accident just to make you sit in traffice for 2 hours??? You should be grateful that you weren't involved in that accident.

Posted by summerville_guy on March 27, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It took me over two hours to commute my usual 20 minutes to work. I think whichever driver caused this accident should have a class action lawsuit against him or her in order to pay everyone back for the gas they had to wasted sitting in traffic.

Posted by yougogirl78 on March 27, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Dixie - The "thanks" was a typo!!! Chill out!! Sorry I did not send a follow up. Geez! :)

Posted by amylrod on March 27, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Judgment should be reserved until all the facts are in. Don't assume it was someone on a cell phone. We will know in due time after the investigation. As dixie said, "you should be grateful that you weren't involved in that accident." Show more compassion - pray for those involved and for their families. Offer up the inconvenience of waiting in traffic as a prayer to God to become more patient.

Posted by summerville_guy on March 27, 2008 at 11:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Amy, I agree that prayer is needed for the people who were hurt in the accident. And thank God nobody was killed! But I don't think that patience is necessarily the problem here - it is more a matter of people having to get to work and there being nothing they can do to get there on time. This accident was most likely caused by one person not obeying traffic laws, so I can understand people being upset that this one person has made literally thousands of people late for work, or school, or whatever is important to them in their daily lives.

Posted by wpc3iop on March 27, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My guess ia that a large part of the traffic backup was caused by police cars and other emergency vehicles blocking some of the lanes...they don't seem to much care about getting traffic moving quickly again after an accident...

Posted by allwoman on March 27, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I was stuck in that traffic for over 2 hours. I left home at 6:50 this morning and didn't make it to work until 9:15. My commute is normally 35-45 minutes. Today was horrible. I just pray that all involved make it out okay.

Posted by jifdeng3 on March 27, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

wpc3iop
The reason we block accident scenes is for protection of us and the victims. A highway is a very dangerous place to work. Rubber neckers and people in a hurry to get to their jobs kill emergency workers on roads every year. We dont need a 4000 pound vehicle plowing into the scene while trying to save some persons life. I ask that you understand our jobs and just relax. It doesnt happen every morning. Turn on your radio enjoy some music and be glad your not involved.

Posted by kma71 on March 27, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm glad to hear that no one was killed. Charleston's biggest traffic problem is the limited number of roads to get you downtown or James Island or elsewhere. Columbia has 4 interstates running through it. I 26, I 77, I 20, and I 126. If charleston had one more major thoroughfare it would releive a lot of traffic congestion. IMO!

Posted by eaw429 on March 27, 2008 at 1:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I was waiting on lunch today and overheard some gentlemen talking about the accident. I'm not one for "he said, she said" stuff, but apparently he saw the accident and said that there were 2 motorcycles traveling in excess of 100 mph when the accident happened--said it looked like they may have been racing. I hope everyone comes out of this ok.

Posted by iceman1978 on March 27, 2008 at 2:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ever notice how many people around here drive like they got their license out of the cereal box? Perhaps if people would get over this fascination they seem to have with tailgating we wouldn't have problems like this. Whoever caused this wreck should have their vehicle confiscated (assuming it's even driveable) and their license revoked for one year. Make them go back to drivers ed school because apparently the lessons taught by driving instructors didn't sink in the first time.

Want to reduce accidents?? Three simple things.

1) Fix the roads. I have lived in second-world nations that have better roads than what we have.

2) Install cameras at red lights. I work along Rivers Ave and have seen many accidents (some fatal) that were mostly caused by people running red lights.

3) Install cameras along the expressway to record people who tailgate. Germany does this, as well as other European nations, and it seems to work well for them.

Posted by dixie on March 27, 2008 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It amazes me how many selfish people there are on this site. All they care about is how long it took them to go what normally takes them 20-40 minutes. I too sat in the traffic along with the rest of you. Sure it was frustrating but I was grateful that I nor any of my loved ones were involved in that accident. People didn't have to waste their gas. You could have easily pulled off an exit, sat in a parking lot with your car off until traffic started moving again. Maybe one day people will be grateful for what they take for granted.

Posted by ForPnC on March 27, 2008 at 4 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I got to work before all of this happened but many of my co-workers were very late. Only one had the common sense and courtesy to not complain about traffic. I've sat and waited longer than three hours just because of construction. It happens folks. And, sadly, it's going to happen again.

Let the emergency personnel do their jobs. Get over yourselves and what you think are your important lives.

I hope that all of those that were injured recover quickly.

Posted by prosperous_hb on March 27, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm glad there was no deaths. I watched the news before I left my house in Moncks Corner this morning. I left home at 7:00 and made to work in West Ashley at 7:45. I took Redbank to N. Rhett and then to 526. Sometimes it pays to watch the news in the morning.

Posted by walleyedwoman1215 on March 27, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

amylrod: How right you are about offering it up; it relieves a lot of stress!
iceman: cereal box comment made me laugh out loud! What is an example of a second-world nation? Thank you; I'm really bad at geography.

Posted by pithy on March 27, 2008 at 5:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well said jifdeng3!

Just as I was commenting on the refreshing refrain from emergency services bashing, wpc3iop had to make their ridiculous comment!

Was I the only person who noticed, and appreciated, the multi-jurisdictional response AND assistance.

Posted by iceman1978 on March 27, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

walleyedwoman, I'm glad you liked it. That expression was actually something that I remember hearing on Sesame Street when I was a child. Oscar the Grouch said it and I remember my father laughing at it.

A second world nation is at the in-between stages of industrial development and the information age. Third world nations would be most parts of Africa, large sections of India, Bangladesh and places like Afghanistan. Second world nations would be the former Eastern bloc nations, probably China, Russia and other sections of India. When I lived in Turkey it was like that. Turkey was more developed than the third world, but not on the level found in Germany. This was fifteen years ago though, so today it would probably be a first world nation. First world would of course be the US, Canada, EU nations, Australia, and S Korea.

One other nation is first world, but for some reason the board is not letting me include it. Hint: It's capital is Tokyo and we buy many cars from them.

Posted by wonderdog on March 27, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

wpc3iop, I hope for your sake that you and your loved ones never need an ambulance, fire truck or police officer. Karma's a b****.

Posted by mkhaynes on March 27, 2008 at 7:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Dixie - I don't think anyone wishes ill on the person(s) who caused the wreck, but the conversation about how to fix the problem is one that should be had. And part of that problem is crappy drivers.

It's amazing to me stuff like this doesn't happen more often through that stretch of interstate. You just get through the Ashley Phosphate hang up, things start flowing again, and then you get hung up at I-526. I haven't driven through Charleston at rush hour in a few years, moved up to Va with my Navy hubby, but do they have signs to warn about traffic tie-ups? There are plenty of ways to get around through North Charleston, as long as you know soon enough to get off the interstate. The urban sprawl and uncontrolled growth is the biggest issue in Charleston. We probably won't move back unless we have to, only because of what you guys deal with every morning (and afternoon). Consider it the price of living where you live, and enjoy the chance to hang out in your car listening to Bob and Tom with a freebie to be late to work. :)

Posted by urvoucher on March 27, 2008 at 7:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Please, everyone be very careful and have a lot of patience when in bumper to bumper traffic.

Posted by moonpie on March 27, 2008 at 8:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Very sorry to hear about this but I agree with some fellow posters, probably caused by someone breaking the law AND yes it teaches patience AND yes Charleston roads suck.
You know how many laws I saw broken while trying to get thru the traffic? I actually had one jackass pass me in standing still traffic pulled over in front of me to move up one car length. Of course that didn't fly. I saw 3 other rear end wrecks where people just aren't paying attention and YES ALL 3 WERE ON THE DAMN PHONE! Should be a law against driving while on the phone.

Posted by joesmuck on March 27, 2008 at 8:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just slow the hell down, pay attention, get off the damn phone and you will not be a burden on society. It's a good road with ample capacity (conjested at times) but ample. But the drivers need to do there part. Examine why you need to rush to work. If your late and risk getting fired "Leave eariler" if your absenteeism is an issue check yourself, but quit passing the savings on to us.

Posted by sherlock on March 27, 2008 at 10:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Gosh! I wa steady praying that I wouldnt run out of gas. Barely made it to work. Thank goodness I didnt have a boss to answer to on this day. One person makes a decision and look what happens. I hope that everyone will be okay. I even left early this morning because I wnated to get to work early, grab a bite at Hardees and get some gas. didnt get to do any of it. Oh well.
GO HILLARY!!!!!!!!!