Why Is the I-95/I-20 Interchange One of SC's Most Dangerous Spots for Truck Accidents?

Just west of Florence, two of the busiest freight corridors in the Southeast come together. Interstate 95 runs north and south along the Atlantic coast, connecting Maine to Miami. Interstate 20 runs east and west, linking the Atlantic coast to Dallas. Their intersection near Florence funnels enormous volumes of commercial truck traffic through a single geographic point.

That role makes the I-95/I-20 interchange one of the most consistently active truck corridors in South Carolina. It also makes it the site of frequent and often serious truck accidents involving long-haul carriers, regional drivers, and passenger vehicles all moving through the same merge points.

For drivers in Florence County and throughout the Pee Dee region, understanding why crashes happen here is important context after a serious collision.

Why the I-95/I-20 Interchange Is So Busy

The interchange serves as a connector between the East Coast freight corridor and the southern interstate network. Trucks moving from the Northeast to Atlanta, from Florida to the Midwest, and from the Port of Charleston to inland distribution hubs frequently pass through Florence.

Truck traffic moving through the interchange typically includes:

• Long-haul tractor-trailers
• Refrigerated trucks transporting food and produce
• Fuel and chemical tankers
• Auto haulers
• Container drayage moving inland from the Port of Charleston
• Regional delivery trucks supporting Pee Dee distribution centers

Merging Movements That Increase Crash Risk

The interchange involves significant merging traffic from multiple directions. Trucks entering and exiting the freeway, changing lanes to reach the correct interstate, and adjusting speed for grade changes all create conditions where collisions become more likely.

Typical merge-related risks include:

• Sideswipe collisions during lane changes
• Blind-spot crashes
• Rear-end collisions when traffic suddenly slows
• Chain-reaction multi-vehicle crashes

Truck Stops and Service Plaza Activity

The area around the interchange includes several major truck stops, including a large cluster around Exit 164 on I-95. Trucks entering and exiting these facilities cross the same lanes used by interstate traffic, often with limited acceleration room and during periods of fatigue.

The combination of high through-traffic and frequent truck stop entries creates ongoing risk on the approaches and exits.

Driver Fatigue on the I-95 Corridor

Florence sits roughly midway on I-95 between the Northeast and Florida. For long-haul drivers, this puts Florence in a stretch where fatigue often becomes a significant factor. Drivers may have already been operating for many hours by the time they reach the interchange.

Signs that fatigue may have contributed to a crash can include:

• No skid marks before impact
• Lane departures
• Failure to respond to slowing traffic
• Crashes during typical sleep hours

Electronic logging device records often help determine whether hours-of-service limits were exceeded.

Common Truck Crash Types at the Interchange

Truck collisions at and near the I-95/I-20 interchange may involve:

• Rear-end crashes during congestion
• Jackknife crashes
• Under ride accidents
• Rollover crashes on ramps and curves
• Multi-vehicle chain reactions

For more on these categories, see our overviews of rear-end truck accidents in Florence, truck jackknife accidents in Florence, and truck underride accidents in Florence.

Weather Conditions Affecting Interchange Traffic

The Pee Dee region sees heavy rain, fog, and occasional ice during winter months. Weather can affect interchange safety by reducing traction, limiting visibility, and contributing to standing water on ramps and bridges. Drivers are expected to adjust their behavior to conditions, and failing to do so may support a negligence claim.

Construction Activity in the Interchange Area

SCDOT periodically conducts improvement and resurfacing work along I-95 and I-20 in the Florence area. Construction zones introduce lane shifts, reduced speed limits, and altered traffic patterns that can be particularly hazardous when combined with heavy truck volume.

Evidence That Often Matters in Interchange Crashes

Important evidence in these cases may include:

• Electronic logging device and black box data
• Dash camera footage
• SCDOT traffic camera footage
• Driver hours-of-service records
• Maintenance and inspection records
• Dispatch communications
• Witness statements from other drivers

Some of this evidence is overwritten on a regular schedule. Spoliation of evidence in a Florence truck accident covers the timing issues in more detail.

Parties Who May Be Liable

Truck crashes at the I-95/I-20 interchange often involve multiple potentially responsible parties:

• The truck driver
• The motor carrier
• A maintenance contractor
• The shipper or cargo loader
• A freight broker
• Another negligent driver

For more on the layers involved, see our overview of trucking company liability in a South Carolina truck accident.

How a Florence Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help

Interchange crashes can involve multiple carriers, complex evidence, and out-of-state defendants. A Florence truck accident lawyer familiar with the I-95 and I-20 corridor can help identify the parties involved and the evidence that may matter.

If you were hurt in a truck accident at or near the I-95/I-20 interchange, the firm's South Carolina truck accident attorneys are available to review the case and discuss the options.