Stations 1 and 27 responded to a single vehicle fatal MVC on I-95 at the 52-1/2 mile marker southbound, Wednesday afternoon 16-December at 1519. A 2008 Chevrolet extended cab pickup truck left the roadway at a high rate of speed. The truck entered the wooded median, struck several trees and caught fire. The 62 year old driver was heavily entrapped in the wreckage and was deceased. His wife received multiple trauma injuries and was found in the passenger seat of the heavily damaged vehicle. She was pulled from the burning vehicle by 37 year old Chad Schroeder and his 13 year old son Austin of Zephyrhills Florida, who had been traveling behind the Georgia couples pickup truck. Their heroic actions are credited with saving the woman’s life.

Fire-Rescue units arrived six minutes later to find the vehicle well involved in fire. Firefighters used a single handline to quickly extinguish the fire. Firefighter-Paramedics treated the female patient at the scene with IVs and pain medications. A medical helicopter was requested to fly to the accident site. Lifenet 3, who was already standing by at Colleton Medical Center arrived minutes later. The woman was flown to the Trauma Center at MUSC in Charleston. After the fire was extinguished, personnel awaited the Coroner’s

Office to arrive before extricating the patient. Following the Coroner’s Office investigation, a wrecker was used to pull the mangled vehicle off of the large pine tree and on to the shoulder of the road. Firefighters used Holmatro Rescue Tools to remove the driver’s side doors. Hydraulic rams were then used to displace the dash and allow removal of the man’s body. Traffic on I-95 southbound was stopped for nearly 50 minutes and was shut down to one lane for another hour until the accident scene could be cleared. The Coroner’s Office transported the man’s body to the Medical University. SC Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.  

Engine 1, Rescue 1, Medic 27, Battalion 1 and Truck 11 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.