Colleton Medical Center

All posts tagged Colleton Medical Center

A 21-year-old Cottageville man died following a two vehicle head-on collision in the 5800 block of Cottageville Hwy (US Hwy 17-A) Friday morning 12-February at 05:35. Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue units from Station #9 arrived to find a 2007 Ford pickup truck on the northbound shoulder with heavy damage. The engine had been thrown 50 feet into the nearby swamp. The driver suffered multiple traumatic injuries and was trapped in the wreckage with no signs of life.

An empty tractor-trailer dump truck was in the woods on the southbound side. The tractor-trailer struck several large trees after the collision with the pickup. The 70-year-old truck driver was also trapped in the wreckage of his vehicle. Engine 9 requested an additional station and ambulance to be assigned to the incident.

Cottageville Highway was blocked due the wreckage. Firefighter-Paramedics began treating the truck driver in the cab, while other crewmembers used Holmatro rescue tools to displace the dash and remove the seat. The driver was extricated with full spinal precautions, then carried through the swamp and up an embankment to Medic 19. He was transported to Colleton Medical Center with multiple, non-life threatening injuries.

The Coroner’s Office responded to the scene. Following their investigation, firefighters used Holmatro rescue tools to extricate the driver of the pickup truck. The Coroner’s Office transported his body. It appeared the northbound pickup left the roadway, over-corrected, then crossed into the path of the southbound tractor-trailer. The collision punctured and dislodged one of the large fuel tanks off of the dump truck spreading diesel fuel over the entire scene. SCDOT brought a sand truck to cover the spilled fuel. Traffic on Cottageville Highway was detoured for six hours, until the accident could be cleared.

Engine 9, Engine 19, Medic 9, Medic 19, Rescue 1, Battalion 1, and Car 12 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.

Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

crash site with tractor-trailer

Barry W. McRoy photo

fatal crash scene on rural highway

Barry W. McRoy photo

crash site with tractor-trailer

Barry W. McRoy photo

fatal crash scene on rural highway

Barry W. McRoy photo

crash site with tractor-trailer

Barry W. McRoy photo

A 30 year-old man lost his life in a single car accident at the intersection of Quail Drive and Academy Road Monday night 15-June at 22:36. The accident occurred north of Walterboro, SC. The vehicle had been traveling north on Quail Drive when it ran through a stop sign, crossed Academy Road and struck a pine tree. The impact dislodged the tree and caused massive damage to the small car. The driver died of multiple traumatic injuries and was trapped in the wreckage. The Coroner responded to the scene. After he completed his investigation, Colleton County (SC) Firefighter-Paramedics used Holmatro rescue tools to remove the driver’s door and extricate the man. Academy Road in the area of the accident was closed for two hours while the SC Highway Patrol conducted their investigation of the crash.

Engine 1, Rescue 1, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 12 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Scott Feather served as Incident Commander.

Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

car crushed after hitting a tree

Barry W. McRoy photo

crash scene at night

Barry W. McRoy photo

fireman with Holmatro rescue tool at night

Barry W. McRoy photo

car crushed after hitting a tree

Barry W. McRoy photo

A 41 year-old man was trapped under an over-turned tractor for nearly an hour, Saturday morning 13-June. Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue was notified of the incident at 08:26 on a path that ran through the woods off of the end of Gary Street east of Walterboro. The man had been operating a tractor with a bush hog when the unit fell into a ditch and flipped over. The driver was pinned under the tractor in about 6 inches of water. The front of the tractor miraculously landed on a culvert and by the grace of God did not crush the driver.

firemen at the scene of a resceu

Barry W. McRoy photo

firemen free man trapped under a farm tractor

Barry W. McRoy photo

firemen at the scene of a resceu

Barry W. McRoy photo

Heavy fire apparatus could not reach the scene so firefighter-paramedics walked about 2/10 of a mile down the path to reach the patient. Extrication equipment, including high pressure air bags and hydraulic tools were transferred to a fire department pickup truck and transported to the location. Crews stabilized the tractor with a winch and cribbing. Firefighters used hand tools to dig under the tractor in an attempt to free his legs. The steering wheel and pieces of the tractor were removed with Holmatro hydraulic cutters so the man could be slid out. The actual extrication took about 35 minutes. He was extricated with full spinal precautions, then placed in a stokes basket to be carried up the embankment. The man complained of pain to his legs and received a second degree burn from hot oil dripping on his legs. He was transported to Colleton Medical Center for further treatment.  Units were on the scene for about 1-1/2 hours.

Engine 19, Medic 19, Rescue 1, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Captain Chris Jones served as Incident Commander.

Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

firemen at the scene of a resceu

Barry W. McRoy photo

over turned tractor that injured the drive

Barry W. McRoy photo

 

A 43-year-old man was severely injured in a structure fire at 71 Overlook Lane west of Walterboro Wednesday morning 27-May. At 02:27, Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue was notified of the incident with the caller reporting flames were already burning through the roof.

Deputy Chief Greene arrived two minutes later to find a well-involved, single-story, brick veneer structure approximately 45% involved. He began treating the injured man who received second and third degree burns to his hands, and burns to his face. Engine 1 arrived minutes later and deployed a deck gun on the structure, as well as one 2-1/2 inch handline and two 1-3/4 handlines. Engine 26 set up a water shuttle operation from the road and supplied Engine 1 who was parked down a small driveway.

While firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, Firefighter-Paramedics rapidly transported the man to Colleton Medical Center to be stabilized. Due to poor weather conditions near the Georgia border, no medical helicopters could fly to the Burn Center. Fire-Rescue Medic 1 transferred the man emergent from CMC to the Still Burn Center at Doctor’s Hospital in Augusta Georgia 1-1/2 hours away.

The fire had already destroyed most of the eastern side of the residence and burned into the attic on the western side. Crews worked for 25 minutes to bring the fire under control. Most of the roof was burned off of the building, but the living area on the western side of the building was saved. The area suffered drop down and water damage, but many personal items were salvageable. The fire appears to have started in the kitchen near the stove. The man was awakened by smoke alarms in the home. He ran to a neighbor’s house to summons help.

Engine 1, Engine 26, Tender 1, Tender 4, Tender 15, Tender 18, Tender 26, Tender 27, Ladder 19, Medic 1, Medic 18, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 12, Car 105 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.

Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief

rural house engulfed in fire

Barry W. McRoy photo

firemen battle a rural house engulfed in fire

Barry W. McRoy photo

fireman battlesrural house engulfed in fire

Barry W. McRoy photo

firemen battle rural house engulfed in fire

Harold Buzzell photo

aftermath of house fire

Harold Buzzell photo

One firefighter was injured and a residential dwelling destroyed Sunday morning 15-March. At 01:15, Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue was notified of a reported explosion and house fire at 461 Three Mile Road, north of Walterboro. Engine 19 arrived to the rural dirt road minutes later to find the single-story, wood-frame dwelling fully involved.

It is suspected that the home had been burning for quite some time before anyone discovered the fire, as the entire roof had already burned off of the building. A LP tank was found to be venting behind the structure sending flames 20 feet into the air. It is believed the tank venting was the loud noise which alerted neighbors to the fire.

firemen battle a fire at night

Photo by Harold Buzzell

The driveway to the home was equipped with a narrow metal gate which prevented fire apparatus from accessing the property. Firefighters deployed two 3-inch lines from Engine 19 through the yard to the building, then gated them down to supply two 1-3/4 handlines each. One crew was dedicated to cool the LP tank, while other firefighters battled the blaze.

One nearby exposure was endangered; a detached apartment, carport and utility room was connected by a covered walkway and located about 30 feet from the burning home. A portion of the covered walkway was badly damaged, however firefighters were able to prevent the flames from reaching the apartment and carport.

firemen battle a fire at night

Photo by Harold Buzzell

While engaged in extinguishing the fire, a portion of the floor near the front of the building collapsed. One firefighter fell through the floor and was inures landing on the floor joists below. He was transported by ambulance (Medic 26) to Colleton Medical Center, where he received treatment for broken ribs and other non-life threatening injuries before being released from the hospital later in the day.

Firefighters remained on the scene for 5-1/2 hours. The large home had been vacant for over a year, but still had power connected. The origin of the fire appeared to be suspicious in nature. Colleton Fire Investigators notified the Sheriff’s Office and the State Police Arson Unit (SLED). SLED agents and other investigators remained on the scene throughout the morning.

Engine 5, Engine 19, Engine 26, Tender 1, Tender 19, Tender 26, Medic 19, Medic 26, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded.

Photos by Harold Buzzell

Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

Photo by Harold Buzzell

Photo by Harold Buzzell

firemen battle a fire at night

Photo by Harold Buzzell

Three New Yorkers and a large canine were trapped in a minivan after it left the highway and flipped on its side in the morning of 02-December. At 09:23, several callers reported the accident to Colleton County (SC) 9-1-1 operators. The northbound Honda minivan left the roadway at a high rate of speed near the 40-mile marker at the Colleton-Hampton County line.

The vehicle slide down the embankment, uprooted a tree, and rolled over onto the passenger side trapping the three occupants. The exterior of the van was wrapped in vines, making it difficult to see from the highway. Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue Engine 13 arrived to find the car in the swamp along the Combahee River. They reported hearing the occupants banging on the inside of the van.

Firefighter-Paramedics stabilized the van using the winch from Rescue 1, cribbing, and stabilizer jacks. A chain saw was used to remove several small trees and the vines from around the van. Crews were then able to force open the rear hatch to the van. After a few minutes of unloading luggage from the back of the van, personnel were able to access the patients.

The large canine was secured by a male patient and later placed in a dog carrier. Two patients suffered non-life threatening multiple traumatic injuries and were extricated with spinal precautions. The third patient refused treatment and ambulance transportation.

Low angle rigging was used to pulled the patients up the embankment. Hampton County EMS transported one female patient to Colleton Medical Center (CMC). Colleton County Fire-Rescue Medic 13 transported the other female patient to CMC. Northbound traffic was down to a single lane for an hour, causing it to back up for several miles. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Engine 13, Rescue 1, Medic 1, Medic 13, Car 12, Car 105, Car 107, Car 117, Animal Control, and Hampton County EMS responded. Deputy Chief David Greene served as the incident commander.

Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

firemen on the highway working a wreck

Barry W. McRoy photo

firemen cut trees to gain access to car wreck

Barry W. McRoy photo

firefighters extricate victims from car

Barry W. McRoy photo

firemen use a ladder to get patient up a ravine

Barry W. McRoy photo

A Ruffin South Carolina family of seven, narrowly escaped an early morning house fire at 90 Blaine Court Friday 02-Janaury. At 02:54, 9-1-1 received the first report of the fire. The adult female advised one of the children in the home awakened her noting the house was on fire. She immediately discovered smoke in the residence and found a fire in the wall behind a television set in a small bedroom. She got everyone out of the house, went across the street to a neighbor’s home and called 9-1-1. Colleton County (SC) Engine 18 arrived minutes later to find the singlewide mobile home well involved. Firefighter-Paramedics deployed multiple handlines to extinguish the fire. They had the bulk of the flames knocked down within 15 minutes, but were on the scene performing overhaul for a little over two and half hours. The home was gutted and the family lost everything inside.

Fire-Rescue Medic 18 transported the woman and an 11 month old female to Colleton Medical Center. Firefighter-Paramedics treated them for smoke inhalation. The other four children and an adult male who was also in the residence were not injured and did not require medical attention. The home did not have smoke detectors. Fire investigators determined the fire started in an electrical outlet in one of the bedrooms. It rapidly spread through the singlewide mobile home from there. Water supply was provided with a tender shuttle. The Charleston Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting the family.


Engine 18, Engine 26, Tender 4, Tender 13, Tender 18, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 18, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 12 and Car 117 responded. Battalion Chief Dan Barb served as incident commander.

Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

 

mobile home gutted by fire

Barry W. McRoy photo

mobile home gutted by fire

Barry W. McRoy photo

mobile home gutted by fire

Barry W. McRoy photo

mobile home gutted by fire

Barry W. McRoy photo

mobile home gutted by fire

Barry W. McRoy photo