A Wednesday‑morning crash on Interstate 126 temporarily shut down all westbound lanes near the Broad River bridge as Columbia commuters headed into downtown, causing a major backup on the morning commute. The crash happened at about 6:25 a.m. at the I‑126 span over the Broad River, just upstream from the downtown entrance ramps.
What happened to traffic
- South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) reported that the collision blocked the entire westbound side of I‑126, forcing traffic to back up before drivers could even enter the interstate from the downtown area.
- Traffic‑camera footage showed the westbound lanes largely empty well ahead of the crash scene, with the congestion building back toward downtown as crews responded.
Updates on the scene
- SCDOT later said the scene was cleared by about 7:10 a.m., and all lanes on I‑126 westbound at the Broad River Bridge were reopened.
- Authorities have not released details about the cause of the crash, how many vehicles were involved, or whether anyone was injured.
