Stations 1, 19
and 26 responded to a high speed MVC on I-95 at Exit 62 Friday evening
10-October at 17:30. A northbound small car who was being chased by Law
Enforcement, left the roadway and entered the median. The car drove down
the embankment, through the wooded median and emerged on the northbound
side before striking a southbound tractor trailer head-on. The impact
threw the small car back into the median. The collision caused a rupture
in the driver's side saddle tank on the truck resulting in a large
diesel fuel spill. The truck driver was able to guide the truck to the
breakdown lane about 400 feet south of the impact site. The truck driver
was not injured. Diesel fuel continued to leak from the tank and covered
all lanes on the southbound side of the highway. The light rain at the
time caused additional spread of the fuel.
Three
firefighter-paramedics from Hilton Head Fire-Rescue drove up on the
accident immediately after it occurred. They began treatment on the man
until Colleton units arrived about 6 minutes later. Law Enforcement was
on the scene immediately due to the chase and were able to block the
southbound lanes of I-95.
Due to the
location, traffic was easily detoured to the exit/entrance ramps at
McLeod Road, allowing traffic to continue to move. However, it did backup
for several miles.
The driver of the
car received non-life threatening injuries and was transported by Medic 19
to Colleton Medical Center. Southbound I-95 was closed for 2-1/2 hours
while units cleaned up the scene. A private cleanup company remained on
scene until midnight.
Engine 26, Rescue
1, Medic 19, Battalion 1 and Truck 12 responded. Battalion Chief Rich
Ellis served as Incident Commander.
