Thousands sign petition to make Pageland intersection safer

PAGELAND, S.C. — More than 2,000 residents have signed a petition asking state officials to add a traffic signal at a busy Pageland intersection.

Katie Holmes, 31, was killed in December 2021 after her car was hit by a truck while turning onto Highway 601 from Dove Sutton Road, family members said.

Holmes’ family said a traffic signal could have prevented her death.

“There were two dump trucks pulling up to her left,” said Cassie Lambert, the victim’s sister. “So my sister was going to pull out and she didn’t see the tractor-trailer coming beside the dump trucks.”

Since the deadly crash, a Love’s Travel Stop has opened at the intersection, which is creating even more traffic, residents said.

County emergency officials told Channel 9 Wednesday there have been 40 wrecks at the intersection in the past 24 months.

That is 10% of the total crashes in Pageland during that time.

“They need to quit sitting and waiting,” Lambert said. “There is no excuse.”

Lambert signed the petition to make the intersection safer.

“I want there to be a traffic light there because I don’t want any other family to go through what we have gone through,” Lambert said. “There are no words for that.”

A spokesman for the Chamber of Commerce said he has asked the South Carolina Department of Transportation to put a traffic signal there at least six times. However, DOT officials denied the requests.

The state lowered the speed limit on that part of the highway from 55 mph to 45 mph.

Channel 9 reached out to the DOT and is waiting to hear back.

VIDEO: Highway Patrol investigating fatal crash near Pageland

Highway Patrol investigating fatal crash near Pageland Highway Patrol investigating fatal crash near Pageland

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