New traffic signal coming to intersection where SC woman was killed in 2021
A South Carolina woman’s family is grateful to learn about major changes coming to a rural intersection where she died.
The family of Katie Holmes says she was in Pageland making a turn when she was hit by a truck and killed in 2021. Channel 9′s South Carolina Reporter Tina Terry learned after a county-wide effort, there is a new plan to add a traffic signal to that intersection.
“Katie was a wonderful person, an amazing friend, an amazing sister, daughter,” her sister Cassie Lambert said. “I’m thankful that I had her,” she added, crying.
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Lambert will never forget her sister. Holmes, 31, was on her way to work in December 2021 when she was killed while trying to turn from Dove Sutton Road onto busy Highway 601.
Timothy Griffin, president of the Pageland Chamber of Commerce, said thousands of drivers headed to the beach pass through the intersection every year.
“I kicked off the campaign to get a light here and it didn’t take but 30 days to get people on board,” he said.
He worked with county leaders to petition the state for a traffic signal there.
“They brought in flashing lights, reduced traffic, but it just wasn’t working,” Griffin said.
In January, the South Carolina Department of Transportation told Channel 9 the intersection did not meet the nationally recognized standard for a traffic signal.
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But in a letter this week, SCDOT said after additional review, a traffic signal can be installed after the construction of additional turn lanes and pavement width -- a $1.4 million project.
Griffin says county and state leaders will work together to raise the funds to complete the project.
“It’s not going to happen overnight,” Griffin said.
Holmes’ family is grateful to be one step closer to a potentially life-saving plan.
“I’m just very thankful that they decided to do it and I hope that this keeps other families from having to go through this, because it is the most devastating thing for anybody to go through,” Lambert said.
SCDOT wants the Chesterfield County legislative delegation to work with county transportation officials to help secure that $1.4 million. Afterwards, construction can start.
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