26/May/2020 – MVC with Entrapment – “B” Shift

Incident # 20-03440 – A Florida man was critically injured in a single vehicle MVC on Interstate 95 near mile marker 52 northbound. The Toyota Sequoia was traveling northbound when it left the roadway and entered a water filled ditch. Witnesses advised the SUV flipped over multiple times and landed on its roof in about three feet of water. A traveler from North Carolina, a Dominion Energy truck driver and a Firefighter-EMT from Jasper County Fire-Rescue stopped to render aid. They entered the water and were able to force open the rear passenger’s door freeing one of the occupants. The other man was trapped in the vehicle under the water and they were not able to free him. Fire-Rescue units arrived minutes later. A winch from Battalion’s 1’s vehicle was used to pull the vehicle up off of the roof. Working in three feet of water, crews used Holmatro Rescue tools to free the man. He was in cardiac arrest and suffered multiple traumatic injuries having been under the water for over 20 minutes. Crews performed CPR, secured his airway and administered medications while enroute to Colleton Medical Center. The hospital ED Staff continued lifesaving efforts and we able to restore pulses. The man was transferred to the Trauma Center at Trident Medical Center. No helicopters could fly due to poor weather conditions. Fire-Rescue Medic 26 performed the emergent transfer with the CARE Flight Flight Crew assisting with his care. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.

Engine 1, Rescue 1, Medic 1, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 101, Car 107, Car 112 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.