“C” Shift – MVC with ejection and air evacuation
Run # 10-04274 - Stations 1, 19 and 26 responded to a two vehicle high speed MVC on I-95 at the 62 mile marker northbound at 0136 Wednesday morning 4-August. Apparently a northbound Hyundai Sonata struck the rear of a construction trailer being towed by a mid 90s Ford Pick-up truck, causing the pick-up truck to lose control and crash into the median. The trailer broke away from the truck, continuing northbound until it came to a stop in the grass between the Interstate and the Exit ramp. The Sonata, which received extensive front end damage came to a stop near the trailer. The pick-up truck over turned and came to rest on its side against several trees in the median. The 61 year old man was ejected from the truck. Two restrained passengers, one adult female and a 10 year old boy, were also inside the vehicle. They suffered only minor injuries and were able to safely crawl out of the truck. Shortly after the two passengers escaped, the vehicle caught fire.
When State Trooper Allan Rouse arrived, the vehicle was well involved endangering the injured man. Rouse and a truck driver pulled the man to safety, away from the burning pick-up. Fire-Rescue units arrived a short time later, finding the truck fully involved. Firefighter-Paramedics quickly assessed the man’s injuries, while other personnel kept the flames at bay with a hose line. The driver suffered multiple traumatic injuries. Despite the heat, crews rapidly immobilized the man and moved him to a nearby ambulance. A medical helicopter was called to the scene. Firefighter-Paramedics continued to treat the man, who was experiencing severe difficulty breathing due to multiple traumatic injuries. Firefighter-Paramedics performed a chest decompression, which had immediate results, improving his ability to breath. It was necessary to also perform RSI on the patient before the helicopter arrived.
Lifenet 3 landed on the Interstate. They flew the patient in critical condition to the Trauma Center at MUSC where he went to emergency surgery. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. The driver of the Sonata was arrested at the scene. The other two patients did not require ambulance transportation to the hospital.
