“A” Shift – MVC w/Air Evacuation            

Run # 10- 05081 - Stations 1, 4, 7, 10, 18 and 23 responded to a single vehicle high speed MVC on Merriel Road near Williams Road Sunday evening 12-September at 1922. The newer model Chevrolet pickup truck failed to negotiate a curve, went down an embankment and overturned multiple times before coming to rest upright in a field. The adult male driver was ejected from the truck and was found unconscious, face down in the mud. A hunter who was in a deer stand witnessed the accident and ran to the man’s aid. He turned him over at which point he began breathing. Medic # 18 arrived minutes later. The man was incoherent, but insisted his 7 year old daughter and wife had been in the truck with him. The field was several acres with waist high grass and yearling pine trees. Four additional stations were dispatched to assist with the search effort. Thirty five firefighters, including several from Bamberg County searched the field for nearly an hour. Heavy Rescue 18 set up their light tower near the overturned truck to illuminate the middle of the field. Heavy Rescue 1 also responded and set up in the east end of the field to light up the search area.

Firefighters used high pressure air bags to lift the truck, but did not locate anyone under the vehicle. The man’s wife and child eventually drove up the scene when they heard about the accident. They had not been in the vehicle. At that point the search effort was canceled.

The man was treated at the scene and transported by Medic # 18 to Bells Elementary School to meet with the Omniflight helicopter. He was flown to the Trauma Center at MUSC. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.

Engine 18, Rescue 1, Rescue 18, Medic 9, Medic 18, Battalion 1, Car 12, Car 17 and Squad 23 responded. Firefighter-Paramedic Brian Rowe (Acting Battalion Chief) served as Incident Commander.