YEMASSEE, S.C. – A catastrophic multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 95 in Colleton County has left a Florida father and son dead and a community grappling with grief, as authorities work to unravel the causes of the complex incident.
William Britt, 68, and his son Patrick Britt, 30, both of Jacksonville, Florida, were killed in a massive pileup that occurred around 4:35 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, near mile marker 41, just north of Yemassee town limits. According to Colleton County Coroner Richard Harvey, the two were traveling together in a southbound vehicle and were pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident involved two separate crashes, totaling 14 vehicles, including six tractor-trailers, six passenger cars, and two pickup trucks. The first collision, involving three vehicles—one of which was a commercial vehicle—occurred just south of a bridge over the Combahee River, causing traffic to slow. Moments later, a second, more destructive crash on the bridge itself ensnared 13 vehicles, including the Britts’ vehicle. Witnesses reported that a severe thunderstorm, producing heavy rain and near-zero visibility, contributed to the chaotic chain reaction that left vehicles crushed and piled atop one another.
Colleton County Fire-Rescue described a harrowing scene, with 26 individuals treated for injuries. Four people, including the two deceased, were trapped in their vehicles and required complex extrications by first responders. Nine survivors were transported to hospitals, including the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, HCA Colleton Hospital, and Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Thirteen others were treated at the scene but did not require hospitalization. One driver, attempting to escape his vehicle, fell off the bridge into the Combahee River but sustained non-life-threatening injuries and swam to safety before responders arrived.
The response effort was complicated by hazardous conditions, including shattered glass from a semi-truck carrying plate glass, which littered the roadway up to two feet deep in some areas. Weather conditions prevented medical helicopters from flying, forcing reliance on ground ambulances from Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper Counties. Five Colleton County Fire-Rescue ambulances, along with mutual aid units, responded, navigating blocked southbound lanes by traveling north from Exit 38. Civilians also assisted, with one individual climbing the wreckage to help responders identify critical injuries.
The crashes caused a nearly 12-hour closure of all southbound lanes of I-95, with traffic diverted through Yemassee via Exit 42, causing significant backups across Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, and Colleton Counties. The South Carolina Department of Transportation and Colleton County Sheriff’s Office facilitated detours, and tow trucks worked late into the night to clear the wreckage. The interstate reopened around 3 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP), South Carolina State Transport Police, and the S.C. Department of Public Safety’s Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) are conducting a thorough investigation into the crashes. Authorities are examining whether the severe weather was a primary factor, with Cpl. Nick Pye noting the complexity of the wreck due to the number of vehicles involved. Findings are expected to be released as the investigation progresses.
The loss of William and Patrick Britt has sent shockwaves through their Jacksonville community. Their deaths underscore the fragility of life and the dangers of driving in extreme weather conditions. As friends and loved ones mourn, they are invited to honor the memory of the father and son for their close bond and the lives they touched. Funeral arrangements are pending, and the community continues to offer support to those affected by this tragedy.
