South Carolina Ranked in Top 5 for Cycling Fatalities

A new ranking has revealed the most dangerous states for cyclists, with Florida found to have the highest fatality rate. South Carolina ranked fifth.  

The study, by personal injury experts at Sweeney Merrigan Law LLP, looked at the rate of fatal incidents that involved cyclists in each state. Data was used from the NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) to find the states with the highest number of cyclist fatalities when compared to population size. 

The data looked at the population of each state, the number of total traffic fatalities and cyclist deaths per state, and the population-based pedal cyclist fatality rates by state for 2021. 

In 2021, South Carolina had 1,198 total traffic fatalities, including 23 cycling fatalities, for a rate of 0.44 cycling fatalities per 100,000 people.

Florida was found to pose the greatest risk for cyclists, with the Sunshine State recording 197 traffic-related cyclist deaths throughout 2021, the equivalent of 0.9 fatalities per 100,000 residents. Cyclist fatalities in Florida also accounted for 5.3 percent of total traffic fatalities throughout the same year (197 out of 3,738). 

The second-most dangerous state for cyclists is Louisiana, where 34 cyclist casualties occurred in 2021, the equivalent of 0.74 fatalities per 100,000 residents. Arizona was found to be the third-most dangerous state for cyclists, with 0.62 deaths occurring per 100,000 people. 

Appearing fourth in the ranking is Mississippi, which saw 0.54 cycling deaths per 100,000 residents.

S.C. Commerce Names Annie Caggiano to Post of Global Business Development Director

Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III this week announced the promotion of Annie Caggiano to serve as the South Carolina Department of Commerce’s Global Business Development (GBD) director.

With nearly 20 years of economic development experience, Caggiano brings a knowledge base informed by utility, university, state, and county perspectives. She has worked with companies from many industries, with an emphasis on automotive manufacturing and corporate headquarters, helping to recruit more than $2.1 billion and 10,000 jobs to the state.

“South Carolina has a proven track record of helping businesses achieve success from launch to legacy, and Annie Caggiano’s expertise and passion for creating opportunities for all South Carolinians through economic development will help ensure that S.C. Commerce’s industry recruitment track record remains strong,” Lightsey said.

In January 2023, Caggiano marked the start of her second tenure at S.C. Commerce when she rejoined the agency as a business recruitment manager. Prior to returning to the GBD team, Caggiano spent the previous three years in the serving as the president of the Oconee Economic Alliance, leading its industrial real estate product, and business recruitment and retention efforts, and as director of business recruitment for the Upstate SC Alliance.

Her other experience includes time at the Central SC Alliance, where she served as director of research; as senior project manager for Santee Cooper; as assistant director for Richland County; and as an S.C. Commerce project manager.

The S.C. Commerce GBD team consists of eight project managers who work to attract new industry to the state and help existing industry with expanding their operations. For the last two years, S.C. Commerce has led the state to secure record-breaking industry recruitment ($10.27 billion in 2022 and $9.22 billion in 2023).

BAE Systems Signs Contract to Maintain U.S. Army Howitzers

BAE Systems has been awarded a contract valued up to $318 million from the U.S. Army to perform technical and sustainment support services for its fleet of M109A6 and A7 Self-Propelled Howitzers (SPH) and their companion, M992A3 carrier, ammunition, tracked (CAT) vehicles.

Under the five-year System Technical Support and Sustainment System Technical Support contract, BAE Systems will deliver ongoing engineering and logistics services to provide new capabilities, maintenance, and testing on the family of vehicles.

Services in this contract will be provided at military bases in the U.S. and around the world, as well as at BAE Systems facilities in York, Pennsylvania; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Sterling Heights, Michigan; Endicott, New York; Elgin, Oklahoma; and Aiken, South Carolina.

“The M109 Self-Propelled Howitzer continues to prove itself as the 'King of Battle' as it provides the firepower and maneuverability to dominate the battlefield,” said Dan Furber, director of ground vehicle production for BAE Systems' Combat Mission Systems business.

“Sustainment services for the M109 allow the U.S. Army to maintain a high level of operational readiness to take this powerful capability to the fight.”

The services contract follows the M109A7 production contract awarded in November 2023.

Testing for Tots Raises Money to Fight Rare Genetic Disorder

April is Fabry Disease Awareness Month, bringing attention to the rare genetic disorder. Fabry is caused by an enzyme deficiency and can cause a fatty substance to build up in the body and damage the heart, nervous system, kidneys, and other organs.

Asheville natives Dr. Brian Jones and his wife Tia founded Tasting for Tots, a nonprofit that seeks to improve early diagnostic initiatives for the disease.

The fifth annual Tasting for Testing for Tots, a fundraiser to expand Fabry disease screening for newborns, will be held April 13 at Eagle Mountain Winery in Travelers Rest. The event goes on from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and each $50 ticket includes two glasses of wine as well as food and desserts.

The event also features live music and a silent auction. For more info, go to www.eaglemountainwinery.com.

Allow us to tell your company's Business Narrative. Send your press release to David Dykes or for more information email [email protected]