SCDOT photo

A photo of the repaired I-20, after the overpass collapse and removal.

No one was killed or injured when an overpass bridge spanning Interstate 20 in Aiken County, S.C. collapsed in the pre-dawn hours of June 14, 2025, due to a gasoline tanker truck hitting the structure and setting it ablaze.

Officials with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) initially said that clearing the vital route between Augusta, Ga., and Columbia, S.C., would likely take a little time to complete.

The state agency said later that day that the overpass carrying Old Vaucluse Road "is damaged beyond repair, requiring demolition and removal" while promising to clear the debris by early the following week.

"The bridge is a total loss after today's tanker crash and fire," SCDOT noted on X. "Demolition is under way and crews will work overnight to clear the site. Repaving and guardrail work will follow to reopen I-20 as soon as possible."

However, just 36 hours after the initial impact to the overpass, SCDOT reopened traffic on I-20 in both directions at mile marker 13 in Aiken County. The accident site is about 20 mi. northeast of Augusta.

SCDOT will now begin expediting a bridge replacement plan.

South Carolina Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell said, "I want to thank our crews, our contractors and our partners in law enforcement for working around the clock on this major emergency response effort. Thanks to their immediate mobilization and diligent work, we opened the interstate in a record amount of time."

North Charleston, S.C.-based United Demolition was brought in to tear down the remaining portions of the damaged bridge before another contractor repaved the interstate highway. As a result, I-20 is fully reopened and traffic is moving through the area smoothly.

SCDOT has started the design phase to replace the collapsed bridge, noted Kelly Moore, an SCDOT spokesperson. She added that the agency plans to speed the process along and would provide a clear reconstruction timeline when the design process is over.

"We don't have those details yet — it will be an emergency contract," she said "We do want to reassure drivers that we are working to replace the bridge in a matter of months and not years."

In the short term, SCDOT and the South Carolina Highway Patrol is encouraging motorists to continue traveling with caution through the area, though, as crews continue to work to remove traffic control devices along the detour routes.

The Aiken Standard reported that additional details of the accident were released June 16, 2025, that led to the tanker fire and subsequent overhead bridge collapse on I-20.

Lance Cpl. Brittany Glover with the state highway patrol told the newspaper that a 2023 Dodge Charger collided with the back of the 2019 International tractor-trailer gasoline tanker as both vehicles were traveling eastbound on the interstate.

The ensuing truck fire caused the Old Vaucluse Road bridge to fall onto the freeway around 4 a.m.

Glover said the drivers of both the tractor-trailer and the car were taken to Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center in Augusta for treatment of their injuries.

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