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Stations 1, 2, 6
and 9 responded to a high speed fatal motor vehicle collision in
the 11500 block of ACE Basin Parkway (US Hwy. 17, about 1 mile north of
the Ashepoo River), Monday 1-December at 1807. The four car accident
occurred on a two lane stretch of this dangerous highway. According to
persons at the scene, a southbound Oldsmobile Cutlass was run off of the
road by a northbound vehicle who was passing another car. The Cutlass
began to spin out of control while returning to the pavement,
crossed the southbound lane and entered the northbound lane. The
Cutlass was struck in the rear by a northbound Toyota Camry. Both
vehicles received heavy damage in the collision. The Cutlass came
to rest in the ditch on the northbound side of the highway near the wood
line, while the Camry was thrown to the southbound shoulder. A
fourth vehicle, a northbound Ford compact, was struck in the
driver's side doors and rear quarter panel.
The drivers of
the Ford and Camry, who were both wearing seatbelts, were not injured,
despite the heavy damage to the Camry the female driver walked away with
no injuries. The Cutlass suffered massive damage to the rear of the small
car, with the rear bumper and rear tires on the driver's side displaced to
the back
of the front seats. An infant was in the rear seat with her mother, but
was
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securely fastened
in a child safety seat. The mother, who was not wearing a seatbelt,
suffered critical injuries in the crash. She was trapped in the wreckage,
pinned between the seats and vehicle roof. The driver and front seat
passenger, who were wearing seatbelts, received only minor injuries.
Firefighter-Paramedics
from Station 6 in Green Pond and Station 2 in Jacksonboro, arrived within
minutes to find the entire highway blocked. Traffic was backed up in both
directions creating problems for emergency crews trying to reach the scene
on the two lane section of road. Recent rains the night before caused the
shoulders to be soggy and soft preventing emergency vehicles from parking
on the grass shoulders. Additional firefighters and one additional
ambulance were dispatched to the accident to assist with the number of
injured and the extrication. A medical helicopter also responded to the
scene. A MUSC Meducare ambulance returning to Charleston as well as two
off duty Charleston firefighters who were stuck in the traffic, also
assisted.
The Oldsmobile's
fuel tank was ruptured, spreading gasoline around the
accident
scene and inside the car. Firefighters stood by with charged handlines
to protect the patient and other crew members while the extrication was in
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