Across the Area

It is good to see that Aiken and Richmond County emergency services services can work together in an emergency such as this.
But then I should not be surprised because Richmond County did a super job with mutual aid after the Graneiteville train wreck in Aiken County a few years back. I am glad that state lines do not stop the cooperation and teamwork I saw on this video.

Nice comment, Curly.

There are no problems that cannot be overcome by the involvement of Lt. Gay. I shudder to think of how bad the crash could have been had he not been there to intervien. I pray that he does not get poached by another county to serve them rather than us.

Were the lanes blocked because of the riverblast traffic and ambulances couldn't get through? It would appear the accident was caused by the need of people in this area to rubbernech and forget they are driving.

This Staff Report is very short on details and needs to be updated. It appeared to me that some westbound vehicles had actually stopped on the US1 bridge to get a good view of the July 4 fireworks show which was about to begin on the 5th Street Bridge only a few hundred feet away. It was an accident waiting to happen and tragically it did. Obviously the people who stupidly thought they had great seats to watch the show got rearended by an unsuspecting westbound motorist at dusk.

The fireworks show started a half-hour late. Only those who could see all the emergency vehicles with their flashing lights on the US 1 Bridge could suspect why. I applaud the person who made the decision to let the show go on. Thousands would have been disappointed. It was bizarre to watch the show with all the emergency activity right behind it. Why didn't they film this on the video to give the viewer a sense of the atmosphere surrounding the accident? Of course having the US1 Eastbound lane closed caused major gridlock after the show.

Next year one of the two state's highway patrols needs to have big dayglo signs posted saying "NO STOPPING ON BRIDGE".

E2432 I'm surprise your great Lt. Gay didn't prevent the wreck from happening. Guess he can't see into the future yet, maybe he'll get that special power to go with his interviening powers and such...I shudder to think you actually believe what you wrote.

This accident was avoidable, but stupid people think you can stop in the middle of a main thorough fare where people drive 60 mph to watch fireworks........

Driver to passenger......look fireworks.....lets stop....passenger to driver, great idea....driver to police officer......I don't know what happened...I stopped to watch the fireworks and somebody hit me in the rear......emt to driver....your lucky to be alive....
me to them...........I guess GOD does watch out for fools and drunks...

I was sitting on my porch last night watching all of the idiotic drivers. I was shocked that there was no accident. I saw tons of cars running redlights, cars staggering at turns blocking the flow of traffic, and speeding. Pedestrians were jaywalking. I saw about 20 close calls.

truthsetmfree, if you had been there to see him in action, you wouldn't be so quick to make those hurtful remarks. There are few men that ccan at the same time run a major event such as the firework show AND control such a large crash scene. How many crashes would have happened if he had not been there to take over from the regualr police that were there ( and looking very confused until he arrived to get things back on track ) ?

E2432, I don't know if you are being serious of condescending, but Lt. Gay is, in fact, one of the most, if not the most, capable Lieutenants on the Sheriff's Office. I am quite sure that it is because of his leadership, and his leadership alone, that many more accidents and casualties were avoided..Kudos to Lt. Gay!

you people have to be kidding me........you must be his mother or some close relative... I know Scott Gay quite well, and the sun does not rise and set because of Lt. Gay.......Superman don't worry I think your job is safe.........Don't get me wrong Scott is a good police officer, and I appreciate his service, but he is not the savior of the world........They nailed him to a cross.

oh and by the way he has only been a Lt. a couple of years..They have been having large crowds downtown for fireworks for many years....in other words, there have been other capable people that done the job before Scott come along, and there will be others after Scott is gone....So just thank him for the good job, don't try to make him the reason the world turns......

Truth, in this one weekend alone, Lt. Gay commanded the firework police detail, worked the major crash and prevented others, and found the lady who had passed away after walking off from the care home. What more must one man do to gain your respect? A lot of people that work at the police department would be well served to try and work up to the level of what he does every day. Oh and by the way, he was in charge of all the big events that happened downtown as a sergeant, and also the Masters golf tournament.

E2432 is obviously a friend, family member, or co-worker of Lt Gay. Which is confusing because they should certainly know Lt. Gay has never handled the Masters - that's been handled by a Capt for years. Certainly makes you wonder what else E2432 is "making up" to boost that resume'. Lt Gay may be a good officer, but you don't have to make stuff up about him.

you are absolutely right madison, apparently E2432 has an obsession for Lt. Gay, and it couldnt be a co-worker they wouldnt print such non sense. I don't know where they get their information from but obviously they didnt get the facts. Again, Scott is a good deputy, not great, not amazing, certainly not any of the things E2432 esposes, but a good deputy. Just for the record E2432 Scott didnt find the lady that was missing, he didnt handle the crash, and he's not the All Mighty.....