Mayor: In Wake of Serious Crash, More Police Patrols Along Hwy. 17

Mount Pleasant Mayor Billy Swails had harsh words Tuesday for anyone driving too fast or under the influence through the 11 miles of highway construction East of the Cooper.

“We’ve had six drug or alcohol related crashes along Highway 17 recently,” Swails said. “And we can’t have what just happened, happen again.”

Swails is talking about the life-threatening injuries sustained by a construction worker early Monday morning when an allegedly drunk driver plowed into a highway worksite.

Police arrested the suspect and charged him with felony DUI, and Swails said Mount Pleasant police will double efforts along the construction zone in an effort to catch impaired or speeding drivers.

“We’ve got to protect these workers,” Swails said. “We need to do everything we possibly can. … Beginning tonight, Chief (Harry) Sewell will have more patrols in that area.”

Already the town lowered the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph through the work zone in an effort to protect construction workers. Now, Swails said drivers should expect to see more blue lights if they don't abide by that new speed.