South Carolina authorities arrested the tractor-trailer driver after making him shut down the entire section of Interstate 85 Thursday by calling in a bomb threat. The incident occurred when the vehicle was stopped, near mile marker 44 at around 2:45 p.m. as the South Carolina State Transport Police checked it out for a missing license plate.
According to officials, the driver indicated the presence of an explosive device in the truck, prompting immediate action. The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office deployed SWAT and Bomb Squad units to the scene. The situation resulted in extensive traffic delays, with all six lanes of the interstate closed for nearly five hours.
State law enforcement, including SLED as well as the FBI, assisted during the investigation, and Governor Henry McMaster commented through social media and expressed his thanks for the efforts of the swift response of these agencies.
After the SLED bomb squad made a thorough sweep, no explosive devices were discovered, and the scene was deemed safe by 7:40 p.m. The driver of the tractor-trailer was detained, but the authorities have not released his name or any potential charges.
Traffic reopened after a few hours, but officials advised caution to motorists amid the continuing investigation. Greenville County Sheriff’s Office disclosed that the shutdown was on precautionary grounds of securing everyone safe.
It is in incidents like this that vigilance and prompt action will be critical for any issue regarding the possible threat. Local officials recognized and saluted the tolerance and cooperation of the community during the response to the emergency.
The South Carolina Department of Public Safety and all agencies will follow up with further information when appropriate.
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