CCFR March 7 2009

Stations 1, 5, 19 and 26 responded to a high speed MVC on I-95 southbound at the 65 mile marker Saturday morning 7-March at 0816. Apparently a southbound Budget Rent-a-truck left the roadway and struck several large trees in the median. The Chevy van suffered major frontend damage trapping the driver in the wreckage. The driver was pinned between the dash and the seat, as well as his legs being trapped when the floor was pushed up into the driver’s seat. The van caught fire after impact. A Charleston City Fire Captain and North Charleston City Fire Dept Battalion Chief who were also traveling southbound on I-95 enroute to evaluate a training class in Beaufort, drove up on the accident just after it occurred. They were able to extinguish the fire with a portable fire extinguisher provided by a truck driver and force open the driver’s door with a pry bar to allow smoke to exit the vehicle so the man could breathe. The 55 year old man was severely injured in the crash and suffered from multiple traumatic injuries, including head and facial trauma.

Fire-Rescue crews arrived within minutes to this remote area of Interstate. Firefighter-Paramedics treated the man while he was still trapped in the

	Stations 1, 5, 19 and 26 responded to a high speed MVC on I-95 southbound at the 65 mile marker Saturday morning 7-March at 0816. Apparently a southbound Budget Rent-a-truck left the roadway and struck several large trees in the median. The Chevy van suffered major frontend damage trapping the driver in the wreckage. The driver was pinned between the dash and the seat, as well as his legs being trapped when the floor was pushed up into the driver’s seat. The van caught fire after impact. A Charleston City Fire Captain and North Charleston City Fire Dept Battalion Chief who were also traveling southbound on I-95 enroute to evaluate a training class in Beaufort, drove up on the accident just after it occurred. They were able to extinguish the fire with a portable fire extinguisher provided by a truck driver and force open the driver’s door with a pry bar to allow smoke to exit the vehicle so the man could breathe. The 55 year old man was severely injured in the crash and suffered from multiple traumatic injuries, including head and facial trauma. Fire-Rescue crews arrived within minutes to this remote area of Interstate. Firefighter-Paramedics treated the man while he was still trapped in the
	wreckage, which included airway management, IV lines and pain medications. Crews used several hydraulic rescue tools to displace the dash and cut away the pedals to free the man. The Meducare medical helicopter responded to the scene and landed on the Interstate at the accident site. The flight crew came to the scene and assisted with patient care including additional pain medications. Following the extrication, the patient was transported directly to the helicopter and flown to the Trauma Center at MUSC in Charleston. Engine 5, Engine 26, Rescue 1, Battalion 1, Medic 19 and Truck 12 responded. Battalion Chief Richard Sheffield served as Incident Commander.