🌱 Bluffton Parkway Flyover Crash + Man Charged W/ Sexual Exploitation

Welcome back, Hilton Head! I'm here in your inbox this morning to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and pleasant. High: 75 Low: 63.

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Here are the top three stories today in Hilton Head:

1. Injuries were reported in a three-car crash that occurred on the Bluffton Parkway Flyover on Wednesday afternoon, causing a full closure of all lanes of traffic. The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office sent an alert stating that the overpass had been shut down in both directions and at least one person was injured in the accident, with details of the severity and number of injuries yet to be determined. Motorists in the area were provided with alternate routes. (Subscription: The Island Packet)
2. John Patrick Walker, 37, turned himself in to the Beaufort Police Department on charges of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and criminal solicitation of a minor. Walker allegedly sent explicit messages to two individuals he believed were underage through a social media app. However, these accounts were set up by investigators searching for child predators online as part of the department’s Operation Rock the Boat. Walker is currently in custody at the Beaufort County Detention Center on a $25,000 surety bond, and if convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison for his charges. (AOL)
3. The daughter of a man who disappeared 40 years ago, along with two other men in eastern Carolina, is working with the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office to help solve the cold case. William Clifton was last seen in Chocowinity on December 10th, 1982, with David Micmicken and Michael Norman, who were also reported missing. ReAnne Mayo is hopeful that by keeping her father's story alive, someone will come forward with information to help solve the case and bring her father home safely after all these years. (WITN)

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Today in Hilton Head:

• Live Music Featuring Mike Bagentose At The Lucky Rooster Kitchen And Bar (6:00 PM)
• Liquid Velvet At Uncorked (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The water feature at Lowcountry Celebration Park playground will not be available today as maintenance crews work on it. The water feature will be back on in time for weekend fun on Saturday, Mar. 25. (Town of Hilton Head Island Government via Facebook)
• Hilton Head government and fire rescue members visited Hilton Head Island High School this week for career day. See who was in attendance in the photos at the link! (Town of Hilton Head Island Government via Facebook)
• In case you missed it: Hilton Head began demolition work this week on its property at 355 William Hilton Pkwy, which will close all access points until completion, and the contractor will be removing remaining building slabs and some paved surfaces. (Hilton Head Island)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday! See you around.

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is an Editor for Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s in journalism. She was previously a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.