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CONWAY, Horry County, S.C., Oct. 15, 2026 — A pedestrian suffered critical injuries Wednesday night, October 14, after being struck near the intersection of Highway 544 and Singleton Ridge Road in Conway, according to Horry County Fire Rescue. Lanes of Highway 544 were blocked for hours as crews responded.
Horry County Fire Rescue said it was dispatched to the scene at 9:27 p.m. The agency reported critical injuries but released no further details on the pedestrian's condition, age or gender.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. Conway Police Department, Horry County Police Department and Coastal Carolina University public safety assisted at the scene, fire rescue officials said.
Authorities urged drivers to avoid the area while crews worked, citing both traffic delays and the safety of responders on scene. No information on the vehicle or driver involved has been released. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
We wish the injured a complete and speedy recovery.
When Pedestrian Crashes Are Most Likely to Happen
Darkness changes the math for drivers and people on foot alike. Headlights illuminate only a narrow stretch of road, and a pedestrian in dark clothing can be nearly invisible until a vehicle is almost on top of them. Crashes involving people on foot cluster heavily in the evening and nighttime hours, when visibility drops but traffic speeds often do not.
Weeknights carry their own risks. Commuters are tired, some drivers are distracted by phones or fading daylight, and rural highways like many in Horry County lack lighting or sidewalks that would give pedestrians a safer buffer from passing traffic. Roads with higher speed limits and fewer marked crossings tend to see more severe outcomes when a pedestrian is hit.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 7,314 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in 2023. Fall and early winter evenings, when darkness falls earlier but many people are still walking or commuting, are a particular stretch of concern for road safety officials nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a pedestrian do immediately after being hit by a vehicle?
Call 911 or ask a bystander to call right away, even if injuries seem minor. Try not to move unless staying in place puts you in further danger, and wait for emergency medical personnel to evaluate you. Get the names of any witnesses and, if possible, photos of the scene.
Who has the right of way at a crosswalk?
In South Carolina, pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk generally have the right of way, and drivers are required to yield. That said, pedestrians are still expected to use reasonable care, such as not stepping into traffic unexpectedly.
What can drivers do to help keep pedestrians safe?
Slowing down near intersections, scanning both sides of the road at night, and avoiding phone use behind the wheel all give drivers more time to see and react to someone on foot.
What injuries are most common when a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle?
Pedestrians often suffer broken bones, head and spinal injuries, and internal trauma, since there is little protecting them from the impact of a vehicle. Severity usually depends on the vehicle's speed at the moment of impact.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Crash in Conway, SC
If you're involved in or witness a pedestrian crash, you should contact emergency services immediately and avoid moving an injured person unless necessary for safety. Even if injuries seem minor at first, a medical evaluation is important, since some injuries such as internal bleeding or concussions may not show symptoms right away.
Cooperating with investigators from the South Carolina Highway Patrol or local police, and providing an accurate account of what was observed, helps ensure an accurate record of the incident. Residents in Conway who regularly walk or drive near busy highway corridors are encouraged to stay alert, particularly after dark, as the investigation into this case continues.
