The Beaufort community is mourning the tragic loss of Juan Tahual-Lopez, who died in a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 278 at Buckwalter Parkway in Bluffton, South Carolina. The accident occurred on a Sunday evening, just after 7:00 p.m., and involved multiple vehicles, including a Honda motorcycle, a Mercedes SUV, and a Toyota sedan.
Tahual-Lopez, who was riding the Honda motorcycle, sustained fatal injuries in the crash. Emergency responders from the Bluffton Township Fire District, Bluffton Police Department, South Carolina Highway Patrol, Beaufort County EMS, and the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office worked at the scene until late Sunday night. The driver of the Mercedes SUV was entrapped and had to be extricated by firefighters using heavy equipment before being transported to Memorial Health in Savannah with moderate injuries. The driver of the Toyota sedan was also taken to Memorial Health for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The collision remains under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office.
This tragic incident highlights ongoing concerns about traffic safety in the Bluffton area. Bluffton Parkway and its intersections, including Buckwalter Parkway, have been identified as collision hot spots in Beaufort County, with data from the state’s Department of Public Safety indicating a high frequency of accidents in these areas.
The loss of Juan Tahual-Lopez has deeply affected the Beaufort community, serving as a somber reminder of the importance of road safety and the profound impact such tragedies have on families and communities.