Crash with entrapment on rural highway in Colleton County SC

All posts tagged Crash with entrapment on rural highway in Colleton County SC


A multi-vehicle MVC on I-95, sent two people to the hospital Wednesday morning 04-December at 03:24. The accident occurred in Colleton County (SC) near the 55 mile marker northbound, west of Walterboro, when a northbound Peterbilt tractor trailer lost control while traveling at a high rate of speed. The truck entered the median and struck multiple trees, causing one pine tree to fall across the northbound lanes of the Interstate.

trees destroyed by tractor trailer crash
Barry McRoy photo

The truck overturned and came to rest approximately 30 feet into the wooded area. The cab suffered massive damage and was in several pieces. The engine and entire drive train were ejected from the chassis, landing approximately 60 feet away. The hot engine started a woods fire. The bulk of the cab was wrapped around a tree with the steering wheel on one side and the driver’s seat on the other. The truck driver was trapped in the seat. He suffered multiple traumatic injuries and was in critical condition. The truck’s saddle tanks ruptured soaking the scene and the patient with diesel fuel.

trees on fire after truck crash
Barry McRoy photo
Firefighters rescue the driver of a tractor trailer crash
Barry McRoy photo

The truck was hauling an intermodal tank which was labeled with a placard indicating it contained diesel fuel, however it was later found to be improperly labeled and contained hazardous chemicals. The tank was not breached and did not leak any contents.

Firefighters inspect the scene of a tractor trailer crash
Barry McRoy photo

Shortly after the truck crashed, a northbound Ford F150 pickup struck the fallen tree causing the driver to lose control. The pickup truck entered the median, struck several trees and also overturned north of the burning woods. The driver was wearing a seatbelt and received only minor injuries.

A passenger car then struck the tree and also entered the median and struck several trees. The two occupants were not injured. Shortly thereafter a second semitruck struck the fallen tree. He was able to stop in the breakdown lane. The driver was not injured.

A third semi-truck struck the tree, but was able to stop which blocked the highway and prevented other vehicles from striking the tree. The occupants of the second and third trucks ran to assist the injured people. 9-1-1 was flooded with reports of the accident.

Colleton County Fire-Rescue units arrived on the dark stretch of Interstate to find multiple vehicles stopped around the scene, tree pieces and wood debris scattered around the roadway, the woods in the median on fire, and several vehicles in the median.

aftermath of semi truck crash
Barry McRoy photo

Firefighter-Paramedics immediately requested additional personnel and apparatus to respond to the scene. Crews began checking on the vehicles and the wooded area for patients. A handline was deployed from Engine 1 to extinguish the fire and lighting was set up to illuminate the accident site. The critically injured truck driver was located, trapped in the wreckage. He was making attempts to get out of the damaged cab. Firefighter-Paramedics placed a medical helicopter on standby and deployed Holmatro Rescue Tools to the truck. Crews were able to use hand tools and worked the man free from the remains of the cab. They treated his severe injuries and controlled the bleeding, then transported him emergent in Fire-Rescue Medic 1 to the helipad at Colleton Medical Center to meet with the C.A.R.E. Flight crew.

The patient was soaked in diesel fuel and could not be flown in the helicopter. The Flight Crew then rode in Medic 1 to assist with patient care while the patient was transported emergent to the Trauma Center at MUSC in Charleston.

aftermath of semi truck crash
Barry McRoy photo

The driver of the Ford pickup truck was transported to Colleton Medical Center by Fire-Rescue Medic 26. No other patients required ambulance transport to a medical facility. Traffic on I-95 northbound in the area of the accident was completely blocked. Sheriff’s deputies shutdown the northbound lanes of the Interstate at Exit 53, detouring traffic to Sniders Hwy (SC Hwy. 63). While working the traffic assignment, a northbound tractor trailer struck a Sheriff’s vehicle, totaling the fully marked Dodge Charger. The deputy was not in the car and was able to run out of the way to avoid injury. Traffic remained heavy through Walterboro most of the morning as detoured vehicles slowly made their way through town. Recovery crews and SCDOT worked all morning to clear the accident site. The SC Highway Patrol and State Transport Police are investigating the crash. 

Engine 1, Rescue 1, Medic 1, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 27, Car 112 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander. 

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

While Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue crews were working a MVC with entrapment on Robertson Blvd, 9-1-1 operators began receiving reports of a high speed MVC on I-95 near the 63 mile marker north bound. The incident occurred Thursday evening 29-March at 19:34. Callers reported a motorhome had crashed in the median and was on fire. Colleton Fire-Rescue units arrived quickly and found the motorhome fully involved and an approx. ½ acre woods fire in the median. Northbound traffic was already stopped with emergency vehicles having to use the breakdown lane to reach the scene. The northbound motorhome left the roadway at a high rate of speed and struck several trees. The vehicle suffered heavy damage and the large cab was turned at 90 degrees on the frame. A passerby, Timothy Hunley from NC, witnessed the accident, stopped and pulled an injured 40-year-old woman from the burning vehicle, saving her life. The woman’s husband, who was the driver, was missing. Firefighter-paramedics began treating the woman, who suffered multiple life threatening injuries in addition to receiving 30-40% third degree burns. The man who pulled her out of the vehicle also received burns, but he denied transportation to the hospital.

Firefighter-paramedics deployed multiple handlines to combat the fire from the northbound lanes and searched the area for the missing driver. Several LP tanks exploded, sending debris flying in both directions. As a safety measure the southbound lanes of I-95 were closed as well until the fire was knocked down. Fire apparatus was also positioned on the southbound side to assist in extinguishing the vehicle and woods fires which had 15 foot flames and was rapidly moving north sending flames and burning ash into the southbound lanes of traffic. Water for the firefighting effort was provided with tenders who shuttled water to the scene.

The C.A.R.E. Flight medical helicopter based in Walterboro responded to the scene and landed on I-95 north of the accident. The woman was transferred to the flight crew, then flown in critical condition to the Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta Georgia. Crews worked for about 25 minutes to bring the fire under control and continued to extinguish hot spots for several hours. After about 35 minutes, units on the southbound side were moved to the northbound side to allow southbound traffic to move freely. Both northbound lanes remained blocked for 1-1/2 hours. Once the fire was extinguished, Firefighter-paramedics located the driver’s body in the mangled cab. He was trapped in the wreckage and severely burned. The  was notified and responded.  After the Coroner’s Office completed their  investigation, firefighters removed the deceased from the wreckage and the Coroner’s Office transported his body. One northbound lane remained closed for four hours. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the accident. Sheriff’s Deputies assisted with traffic control.

Engine 5, Engine 26, Tender 1, Tender 5, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Rescue 1, Battalion 1, Car 107, Car 112 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.

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

Firefighters battle mobile home fire

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighters battle mobile home fire

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighters battle mobile home fire

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighters battle mobile home fire

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighters battle mobile home fire

Barry McRoy photo

Colleton County Fire Rescue Department trucks on the highway

Barry McRoy photo

C.A.R.E Medical helicopter landing on the highway

Barry McRoy photo

At 05:53 on Friday morning 22-September, Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue was notified of a two vehicle MVC on I-95 north of the 55 mile marker northbound involving two large trucks. One was reported to be a car carrier and the caller advised the second truck was down an embankment and was too mangled to tell what it was. Engine 1 arrived minutes later to report a car carrier was blocking one lane on the bridge and the second vehicle was a single-unit box truck that was over turned and down an embankment. It appeared the tractor-trailer struck the rear of the box truck, forced it over the bridge railing and down the embankment at the Great Swamp overpass. Both vehicles suffered heavy damage. The box portion was on its side, while the frame was twisted. The cab was upside down and the driver’s side was crushed after striking several trees. The truck driver, who was still wearing a seatbelt, was inverted and trapped in the wreckage. The box truck was empty and the car carrier was hauling new Porsche automobiles. A second ambulance was requested and the C.A.R.E. Flight medical helicopter was placed on standby.

Fire-Rescue crews used a chain saw to clear a path to the truck cab, then carried equipment down to the scene. Firefighter-paramedics removed the remaining glass and crawled into the mangled cab from the passenger side, but could only access the driver’s upper body. His lower body was pinned between the roof, dash, and floor. He appeared to have suffered multiple traumatic injuries including injuries to his legs. Paramedics began treating his injuries, including IVs and pain medications. Other crewmembers used Holmatro hydraulic rescue tools and saws to cut away and displace potions of the cab to free the man. The tedious extrication took over 2-1/2 hours.

When the patient was removed from the truck, he was transported by Medic 1 to Colleton Medical Center in Walterboro. The medical helicopter was cancelled. The driver of the car carrier was not injured. One northbound lane was blocked, causing traffic to back up approximately four miles. The SC Highway Patrol and State Transport Police are investigating the accident. Fire-Rescue units were on scene for four hours.

Engine 1, Rescue 1, Medic 1, Medic 19, Battalion 1, Car 105, Car 107, Car 110, Car 111, Car 112 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.

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

Firefighter-Paramedics treat victim trapped in a truck

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighter-Paramedics treat victim trapped in a truck

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighter-Paramedics free victim trapped in a truck

Barry McRoy photo

overturned truck after crash

Barry McRoy photo

tractor-trailer crash

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highway tractor-trailer crash

Barry McRoy photo

Four people died in a two-vehicle, high speed collision on Interstate 95 near the 44 mile marker southbound, Friday morning 11-November at 03:58. Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue units arrived to find a tractor-trailer off in the woods. A passenger car had been struck in the rear and also pushed into the woods. The larger truck crushed the car and drove on top of the vehicle trapping all four rear passengers and the adult female driver. A male front seat passenger was able to exit the vehicle with assistance and was moved to Medic 13 for treatment of his injuries.

The car suffered massive damage. Firefighter-paramedics used Holmatro rescue tools to gain access to the female driver. She was unconscious and suffered multiple traumatic injuries. Crews used chainsaws to remove several large pine trees that had been knocked down. Multiple hydraulic tools, including spreaders, cutters, and rams were used during the extrication. Once the trees were removed, chains were rigged between hydraulic spreaders to two large pine trees and then to portions of the car to pull the dash forward to free the driver.

Three additional Fire-Rescue ambulances and the LifeNet 4 medical helicopter were assigned to the incident. LifeNet landed at the scene on I-95 just south of the accident. When the driver was freed, she was quickly treated in Medic 26, then flown in critical condition to the trauma center at Trident Medical in Summerville. The male passenger was transported by Fire-Rescue to Colleton Medical Center, but later was transferred to the trauma center at Trident Medical. The truck driver was also transported to Colleton Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.

The Coroner’s Office and the SC Highway Patrol MAIT Team responded to the scene. Once their investigations were completed, firefighter-paramedics extricated the remaining four victims. Two wreckers pulled the truck off of the car to allow firefighters access to the vehicle. Three children and one adult female in the back seat were deceased. The Coroner’s Office transported the bodies. SC Transport Police and the Sheriff’s Office also assisted. Fire Rescue units were on the scene for five and half hours. Traffic was down to one lane during the incident and backed up for five miles.

Engine 1, Engine 26, Rescue 1, Medic 1, Medic 13, Medic 19, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 12 and Car 105 responded. Deputy Chief David Greene served as Incident Commander.

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

crash site in rural SC Highway I95

Barry W. McRoy photo

Colleton County firefighters cut victims from a crushed car

Barry W. McRoy photo

Colleton County firefighters cut victims from a crushed car

Barry W. McRoy photo

LifeNet 4 Medical Helicopter making a scene pickup

Barry W. McRoy photo

Two Colleton County (SC) residents died following a head-on collision in the 1700 block of Jefferies Highway (US Hwy 15) just north of Wintergreen Road early Sunday morning 11-September at 02:07. A Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Geo Metro struck head-on at a high rate of speed on a straight portion of roadway causing extensive damage to both vehicles and trapping all three occupants.

Fire-Rescue Medic 19 arrived to find Jefferies Highway blocked by the wreckage. The unrestrained occupants of the Geo were heavily entrapped and had no signs of life. The unrestrained driver of the Jeep suffered multiple traumatic injuries. Colleton County Firefighter-Paramedics used Holmatro rescue tools to remove the driver’s side door on the Jeep to gain access to the driver. He was treated during the extrication, then transported by Medic 19 to the trauma center at Trident Medical in Summerville.

After the Coroner’s Office conducted their investigation, firefighter-paramedics used Holmatro rescue tools to remove the roof and doors on the Geo to access the patients. A hydraulic ram was used to displace the dash off of one victim to allow for the person to be extricated from the car. The Coroner’s Office transported both victims to Colleton Medical Center. Traffic in the area of the accident was detoured for five hours until the SC Highway Patrol completed their investigation.

Engine 19, Engine 26, Medic 19, Medic 26, Rescue 1, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Captain Justin Warko served as Incident Commander.

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

firefighters cut trapped driver from car after crash

Barry W. McRoy photo

fatal crash scene in Colleton County SC

Barry W. McRoy photo

fatal crash scene in Colleton County SC

Barry W. McRoy photo

firefighters cut trapped driver from car after crash

Barry W. McRoy photo

A 21-year-old male received multiple traumatic injuries in a single-car crash in the 5400 block of Sidneys Road north of Walterboro (SC) Thursday evening 25-August at 22:55. The northbound Chevrolet Trailblazer left the roadway in a curve at a high rate of speed. The vehicle crossed into the southbound lane, struck the ditch and overturned, striking several trees. A large tree impacted at the driver’s side “A” post, crushing the dash onto the patient’s legs, trapping him upside down in the car.

Colleton County Firefighter-Paramedics found the male conscious, but with multiple complaints. Crews began treating him inside the vehicle, while other firefighters began the process of extricating him from the wreckage. The vehicle was stabilized, prior to firefighters using Holmatro Rescue Tools to remove the driver’s door. Crews worked for another 30 minutes to displace the dash and free the patient’s legs. He was extricated with full spinal precautions, then transported emergent in Fire-Rescue Medic 19 to the trauma center at Trident Medical in Summerville. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Engine 19, Medic 19, Rescue 1, Battalion 1, Car 12 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Ben Heape served as Incident Commander.

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

Barry W. McRoy photo

Barry W. McRoy photo

Colleton County (WC) firefighters operate at crash site

Barry W. McRoy photo

Holmatro rescue tools used during extrication

Barry W. McRoy photo

Holmatro rescue tools used during extrication

Barry W. McRoy photo

rural crash site with SUV

Barry W. McRoy photo

A single car MVC in the 7900 block of Ritter Road south of Walterboro SC, sent a 55 year old Green Pond woman to the trauma center. At 19:37 on Thursday afternoon 26-May, a caller reported the accident advising a car left the roadway and overturned. The caller advised he could not locate the patient and thought they might have been ejected. A Colleton Sheriff’s Deputy arrived moments later and advised the driver was trapped inside the car.

Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue Medic 6 went on-scene a few minutes later, noting the vehicle had heavy damage and was over-turned in the ditch. Apparently the westbound car left the roadway and struck a driveway culvert on the eastbound side of the road. The driveway caused the car to become airborne. It then struck an oak tree approximately six feet off the ground before flipping over in the ditch. The female driver was heavily entrapped inside. She was in critical condition, suffering from multiple traumatic injuries.

Firefighter-Paramedics forced entry into the vehicle and began administering care. Other crewmembers stabilized the car and used Holmatro Rescue tools to remove the driver’s side doors, “B” post, steering wheel, and front seat. The patient was immobilized and extricated with spinal precautions. The extrication took approximately 20 minutes. She was transported directly to the trauma center at the Medical University in Charleston by Fire-Rescue Medic 6 with additional firefighter-paramedics assisting with her care. Traffic in the area of the accident was blocked for an hour. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Engine 2, Medic 6, Rescue 1, Battalion 1, Car 12 and Car 107 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.

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

overturned car from crash

Barry W. McRoy photo

overturned car from crash

Barry W. McRoy photo

firemen cut driver from car

Barry W. McRoy photo

firemen cut driver from car

Barry W. McRoy photo