Traffic Delays on I-26 Due to Multiple Crashes

Charleston, South Carolina, September 4, 2025

News Summary

Major traffic delays have been reported on I-26 eastbound near College Park Road following two separate crashes. Motorists traveling from Summerville to downtown Charleston are facing approximately one-hour delays. In a related incident, a vehicle fire caused additional lane closures on I-26. Drivers are advised to avoid the affected areas as first responders work to clear the scenes and manage traffic congestion.

Charleston, South Carolina – Major traffic delays have erupted on I-26 eastbound due to two separate crashes occurring near College Park Road. The incidents have left the roadway blocked and have resulted in an approximately one-hour delay for motorists commuting from Summerville to downtown Charleston.

As of now, the extent of the damage and the exact timeframe for first responders to clear the scene remain unclear. Traffic is expected to remain congested as the situation develops, and updates will be released when more information becomes available.

In a related incident on Friday evening, traffic on I-26 westbound was also affected when all lanes were temporarily closed following a crash in North Charleston. The earlier incident near mile marker 210, just before Ashley Phosphate Road and the U.S. Highway 52 connector, caused lane closures, although it is currently reported that all lanes have been reopened.

Moreover, a separate fire incident involving a car hauler occurred on I-26 near mile marker 137 in the St. Matthews area of Calhoun County on Sunday morning. The vehicle fire led to both westbound and one eastbound lane being closed. Multiple vehicles that were on the hauler caught fire in the incident. Details regarding any injuries from this fire are not yet available. A detour was established at Exit 139 to redirect drivers away from the affected area, which reportedly made long stretches of I-26 appear empty following the detour. However, clear timelines on lane reopenings or the duration of the detour remain unconfirmed.

Drivers are advised to avoid the affected areas to help alleviate traffic congestion while the incidents are being managed. More updates will follow as further information is released.

Additional traffic incidents on I-26 have raised public concern. Recently, a North Charleston man was sentenced to ten years for a reckless crash on I-26 that resulted in a fatality and severe injuries. The accident took place on October 4, 2021, when the individual, identified as Xavier Rosado, drove his Porsche Cayenne at an alarming speed of approximately 139 miles per hour, colliding with another vehicle. The collision caused the other vehicle to flip, leading to the death of a 23-year-old woman and serious injuries to a 22-year-old male passenger. After the incident, Rosado fled the scene without offering assistance and later falsely reported his vehicle as stolen. Evidence collected by investigators ultimately linked him to the crash, resulting in charges of reckless homicide and leaving the scene of an accident.

As authorities continue to monitor the situations on I-26, drivers remain hopeful for safer travel conditions in the future as the community grapples with the impacts of these incidents.

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Additional Resources

• ABC News 4: Two Crashes on I-26 Eastbound
• Wikipedia: Interstate 26 (South Carolina)
• Live 5 News: All Lanes I-26 West Open Following Crash
• Google Search: I-26 traffic updates
• The State: Traffic Article on I-26
• Google Scholar: I-26 traffic incidents
• WCBD: Man Sentenced for Leaving Scene of Deadly I-26 Crash
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Traffic Safety
• Live 5 News: Video of Deadly Crash on I-26
• Google News: I-26 crash incidents

Author: STAFF HERE CHARLESTON

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