“A” Shift – MCI / MVC with ejections & air evacuations

Run # 10-04294 - Stations 1, 6, 8, 13, 18, 19 and 26 responded to a high speed, single vehicle MVC on I-95 at the 42 mile marker northbound, Wednesday evening 4-August at 1927. The accident occurred about 15 miles south of Walterboro near the Hampton County line. Car 11 and Medic 1 arrived to find a full sized Dodge van with heavy damage near the wood line. The scene was littered with injured people and debris. It appeared the northbound vehicle entered the breakdown lane, overcorrected and lost control. The van rolled over at least five times before coming to rest upright near the wood line. Apparently no one inside the van was wearing a seatbelt. Four occupants were ejected from the vehicle, including two sisters, 11 and 14, and a husband and wife 49 and 48, all of whom were riding in the fourth row seats in the back of the van. The two adults died at the scene from multiple traumatic injuries. All of the people had Pennsylvania addresses.

Three other patients suffered critical traumatic injuries. A total of 11 people were injured. Firefighter-Paramedics found a 3 year old male lying on a pile of suitcases. He was near death and barely breathing when Firefighter-Paramedics arrived. Medics 18, 19 and 26 were assigned to the incident and mutual aid for one ambulance was requested from Hampton County EMS. Medic 6 was relocated near the scene but was not needed. Three medical helicopters were also requested and responded. The 3 year old was quickly treated at the scene and then rapidly transported to Colleton Medical Center by Medic 1. Crews on the scene alerted the hospital of the large number of incoming injured. Colleton Medical Center activated their Disaster Plan which brought in additional resources to the Emergency Department, including a surgical team, pediatric specialist and nurses. Floor nurses also came to the ED to assist. The Emergency Department was already full to capacity before the incident, so patients had to be moved and additional beds brought in to handle the influx of injured people. When the 3 year old arrived at the ED, he was in critical condition and was not breathing on his own. Firefighter-Paramedics were breathing for him and he was suffering from multiple traumatic injuries. One of

 the medical helicopters (Lifenet 3) had been diverted to Colleton Medical Center and landed shortly after the ambulance arrived. The flight crew assisted with stabilizing the child. The hospital staff, including Doctors Mandel, Demarco and two others, along with the surgical team and a room full of nurses and technicians worked diligently to stabilize the child. Their work was successful and the boy was shortly transferred by helicopter (Lifenet 3) to the Pediatric Trauma Center at MUSC, where he was improving later in the evening. The team effort from the scene through arrival at MUSC saved the child.

Back at the scene, the remaining 10 patients were triaged with the critical and more serious treated first as ambulances and additional paramedics arrived. Firefighters from various areas of the county and Yemassee responded to assist at the scene, as well as many bystanders from the Interstate. Two medical helicopters landed at the scene (Omniflight-Charleston and Omniflight-Savannah) shutting down all north bound traffic on I-95. An 11 year old female who was ejected was flown to the Trauma Center at Memorial Medical Center in Savannah, while a 22 year old male who suffered critical

injuries was flown to the trauma center at MUSC in Charleston. The remaining patients were transported by ambulance to Colleton Medical Center in Walterboro. A 14 year old female who suffered multiple traumatic injuries was later transported by Medic 26 to the Pediatric Trauma Center at MUSC in Charleston around 2315.

Several good Samaritans came to the hospital after the patients were transported. One man who assisted at the scene gave some patients clean clothing to wear and money to assist them, but refused to give his name. Another family brought children’s clothes.

Engine 1, Engine 13, Medic 1, Medic 6, Medic 18, Medic 19, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 11, Car 12, Car 111 and Car 116 responded. Hampton County EMS 3 and members of the Yemassee Fire Department responded as mutual aid. Omniflight-Charleston, Omniflight-Savannah and Lifenet 3 medical helicopters also responded. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash and the Coroner’s Office transported the two deceased patients.  Northbound traffic was back up for several miles. Captain Scott Feather served as Incident Commander.