Run # 10-04036 – Stations 1, 19 and 26 responded to a fatal single vehicle MVC on I-95 at the 49mm southbound, Saturday afternoon 24-July at 1751. According to a witness, the large motor-home was traveling southbound when it suffered a tire blow out, which caused the driver to lose control. The motor-home entered the median, striking several trees and caught fire. One woman jumped from the burning coach and bystanders assisted some of the remaining injured away from the vehicle. One witness stated a LP tank exploded knocking one injured person to the ground. Multiple 9-1-1 calls were received reporting the accident which stopped traffic on I-95 in both directions. Responding emergency units could see the thick column of black smoke from Walterboro five miles away. Fire-Rescue units arrived seven minutes later to find an intense fire with the motor-home fully involved. Multiple trees and brush were also burning. Firefighter-Paramedics found a critically injured female about 50 yards south of the accident with bystanders attending to her care. Bystanders reported two other injured people on the northbound side of the interstate.  A Firefighter-Paramedic was sent through the woods to check on the other injured. He found three patients on the right-hand shoulder of the northbound lanes also being attended to by bystanders. One man was deceased. Another adult male

was in critical condition and a woman suffered non-life threatening multiple traumatic injuries, including a possible broken arm and lacerations. Fire-Rescue dispatched two additional ambulances and three Tenders to assist Engine 1 and Medic 1 who were already at the incident. Two medical helicopters were also requested to fly to the scene. With traffic stopped on both sides, the Medic Units traveled south for about two miles in the north bound lanes to reach the scene due to the stopped traffic on the southbound side.

Firefighters worked for 20 minutes with two 1-3/4 handlines to control the fire. LP tanks under the motor-home caused two explosions while crews were engaged in suppression efforts. Both blew debris around the scene, sent flames in the air above the trees and bystanders running for cover. A landing zone was set up a safe distance in the southbound lanes about ¾ of a mile south of the accident. Lifenet 3 and Omniflight-Charleston landed on the Interstate. Both critical patients were flown to the Trauma Center at MUSC in Charleston. The other injured woman was transported by Medic 19 to Colleton Medical Center. Several off-duty firefighters and a police officer from other agencies assisted

Colleton emergency crews. Northbound traffic was open 40 minutes later, but southbound traffic remained closed for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Southbound traffic was then down to only one open lane for another hour. It backed up for 8 miles to the Bells Hwy exit. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.  The Coroner’s Office transported the deceased man.

Engine 1, Tender 1, Tender 19, Tender 26, Medic 1, Medic 19, Medic 26, Rescue 1, Battalion 1, Car 11, Car 12 and Car 111 responded. Asst. Chief David Greene served as Incident Commander.  Captain Scott Feather managed the LZ Sector.