10/November/2012 – MVC with Air Evacuation – “A” Shift

Incident # 12-06135 - Three tractor trailer trucks were involved in a collision on I-95 at Exit 42, the Lowcountry Highway (US 21) overpass, Saturday morning 10-November at 00:03. Traffic had begun to back up due to an earlier accident at the 40 mile marker southbound. One tractor trailer had stopped near the overpass, when a second truck locked up his wheels and swerved to the left to avoid striking the first truck. He slid to a position on the left shoulder, when they third truck, traveling at a high rate of speed, struck the rear of the trailer on the first rig, causing heavy damage to both vehicles. The passenger side of the Freightliner was ripped completely off of the truck. The third truck continued south until it struck the rear of the trailer on the second truck, driving under the trailer. The remainder of the cab was collapsed and displaced approximately six feet on the chassis. Both fuel tanks were punctured, spilling approximately 150 gallons of diesel fuel on the highway and into the median. The driver of the third truck suffered multiple traumatic injuries. With the complete devastation to the cab, the driver of the first truck was able to easily remove him from the vehicle.

Remarkably he survived the crash. Both southbound lanes were blocked due to the damaged vehicles, debris and diesel fuel in the roadway.

Fire-Rescue units and Sheriff’s Deputies arrived a short time later from the accident two miles south of the location. The driver was found to be bleeding profusely and suffered other injuries. A medical helicopter was requested, with a landing zone set up on the Interstate south of the overpass. LifeNet 4 responded. The man was treated at the scene by Firefighter-Paramedics from Medic 1 and Medic 26, then flown by LifeNet to the Trauma Center at MUSC in Charleston. The Sheriff’s Department was able to reroute traffic to the off ramp, so the traffic could bypass the accident and continue south on I-95. That kept the traffic moving. The other two truck drivers were not injured. The southbound lanes were closed for more than three hours until the damaged trucks could be moved from the scene and diesel fuel cleaned up. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.

Engine 1, Medic 1, Medic 26, Rescue 1, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.