South Carolina DOT worker killed after getting swept away by floodwaters

Updated Oct 9, 2015

A South Carolina road worker died Sunday after floodwater overturned his truck and swept it away during the powerful storm flooding the state.

According to the Greenville News, Timothy Wayne Gibson was working in Columbia when the flow of the floodwater overcame the South Carolina Department of Transportation worker’s truck. The rushing water was powerful enough to flip the truck and carry it away.

The 45-year-old Gibson was a member of SCDOT’s Richland Maintenance Unit and was overseeing work in an area near downtown Columbia where rainfall has caused several feet of water to build up.

Gibson is one of nine people killed in the flooding that Gov. Nikki Haley called the worst in 1,000 years.

The storm had closed 381 roads, as of Monday morning, including 70 miles of Interstate 95. Upwards of 127 bridges are shut down and Gibson was one of 1,000 SCDOT workers on the clock to help with the devastating flooding.

Meanwhile, Haley is calling for everyone in the state to stay off the roads until the flooding subsides, which could take some time as the weather forecast was calling for even more rain on Monday.

“This flood disaster has been like nothing South Carolina has ever seen. … Our prayers are with those who have lost their homes and businesses and those who are still in danger as waters continue to rise,” Haley said in a statement. “The heroes in this situation continue to be our first responders, DOT maintenance crews, and our utility workers. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue to work in these dangerous conditions.”

The SCDOT has a webpage dedicated to information regarding the storm—such as a list of all the road and bridge closings as well as maps showing the location of the closings and detours.