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U.S. 601 near Pageland reopened after tractor-trailers collide

PAGELAND, S.C. — South Carolina troopers were investigating after two tractor-trailers collided in Chesterfield County, blocking a busy highway early Monday morning.

PHOTOS: Tractor-trailer crash shuts down U.S. 601

The Highway Patrol was called to the crash scene around 4:30 a.m. after two big-rigs crashed on U.S. 601 near Philadelphia Church Road, close to Pageland.

Pageland Rescue Squad and High Point Fire Department also responded to the crash and officials told Channel 9 that both drivers would be OK.

Surveillance video sheds some light on what happened.

In the video, one semi starts to turn out of the Markette gas station, but doesn't finish making the turn. The semi heading north on U.S. 601 couldn't slow down, and slammed into the truck.

Channel 9 spoke with a truck driver who was in the parking lot of a gas station across the street when the crash happened.

"I was getting ready to eat dinner, and heard a big bang and knew something wasn't right," said Jeff Aleman. "When I first ran up to him, I was seeing if he was OK. He wasn't responding so I immediately thought he had passed. Moments later, he said, ‘Yes, I'm OK,’ and that's when we started tearing him out of there."

Another witness said he saw the impact, and watched the trailer go airborne before landing on the cab of the other big-rig.

Tow trucks were called to the scene to remove the semis and DOT officials were helping clean up diesel fuel that spilled in the crash.

One trailer was hauling eggs while the other was empty.

Authorities were initially allowing traffic to pass one lane at a time in each direction but all lanes were reopened just after 8 a.m.

Channel 9 reporter Gina Esposito is on the scene, follow her on Twitter for real-time updates.

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