Columbia – The SC Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) will hold a memorial service at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 28, to remember those killed in 2017 traffic collisions on South Carolina roadways.

The annual Memorial Service will take place at Lexington Baptist Church and is expected to draw hundreds of family members and friends of those killed on South Carolina roadways in 2017. People from across South Carolina, as well as other states, are expected to attend.

In 2017, 988 motorists lost their lives on South Carolina roadways.

Senior Pastor Dr. Mike Turner, of Lexington Baptist Church, will deliver the “Message of Hope.” SCDPS Director Leroy Smith and Lexington Police Department Chief Terrence Green will also offer words of comfort and condolence to the families. The National Anthem will be performed by the Northside Christian Academy Chorus.

The memorial service has been held annually since 1988 to remember residents and visitors who lost their lives on South Carolina’s highways; to bring together families and friends of the deceased; and to educate the public in an effort to prevent future loss of life on the state’s roads.

“When law enforcement and first responders gather at this ceremony each year, we see the reality and enormity of losing a loved one in a motor vehicle collision,”  said SCDPS Director Leroy Smith. “The pain we see on the faces of grieving families is an important reminder to us of our duty and mission to keep striving for Target Zero highway deaths.”

The SCDPS Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs (OHSJP) coordinates the service, which includes participation from SCDPS law enforcement divisions and public safety agencies from across the state.

Photos from the service will be available on the SCDPS Facebook Page on Saturday, April 28, following the service.

The service will also stream live from Lexington Baptist Church: https://lexingtonbaptist.org/

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety includes the Highway Patrol, State Transport Police, Bureau of Protective Services, Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs, Immigration Enforcement Unit and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame. Our mission is to ensure public safety by protecting and serving the people of South Carolina and its visitors. https://scdps.sc.gov