01/06/2011 – “C” Shift - MVC w/entrapment & Air Evacuation

Incident # 11-00117 – A mother and small child were flown to a Trauma Center following an accident on Confederate Highway Thursday 6-January. Engine 3 arrived at a single car MVC in the 6500 block of Confederate Highway (SC Hwy. 641) near the Colleton/Allendale County Line at 1316. The west bound 1990 Pontiac Grand Am left the roadway on the east bound side of the highway, went down an embankment, struck several tree stumps and over-turned several times before coming to rest on the wheels. The vehicle suffered heavy damage in the collision. Two adults and two small children were injured in the crash. Personnel from Engine 3 confirmed the driver was trapped. A second Medic unit and Rescue were assigned to the incident. Firefighters used Holmatro Rescue tools to remove both driver’s side doors and “B” post to extricate the driver. The 27 year old female was extricated with full spinal precautions. Firefighter-Paramedics suspected possible internal injuries on the 3 year old girl. A medical helicopter was requested to fly to the scene, but two services declined the response citing poor weather conditions.

Omniflight-Charleston and Omniflight-Savannah (Lifestar) did however agree to meet the Medic unit at the Lowcountry Regional Airport. Both patients were treated in Medic 26 at the scene and enroute for the 28 mile trip to the airport. The helicopters flew both patients to the Trauma Center at MUSC in Charleston. The remaining two patients, an 1 year old boy and a 24 year old male were both transported to Colleton Medical Center in Walterboro. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Engine 3, Rescue 18, Medic 18, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 12 and Car 118 responded. Firefighter-EMT-I Jordan Eaddy served as Incident Commander.