25/December/2012 – MCI MVC – “B” Shift

Incident #12-07002 – Seven people were injured in a single vehicle MVC on I-95 at the 41 mile marker southbound, Tuesday afternoon 25-December at 16:18. The accident occurred in heavy rains. The southbound Nissan Armada SUV, left the roadway, went down an embankment and overturned. The SUV struck a tree roof first, causing heavy damage, especially to the rear passenger compartment. An 8 year old male suffered critical traumatic injuries in the collision. An adult patient suffered serious injuries, while the remaining five people suffered non-life threatening traumatic injuries. Fire-Rescue sent four Ambulances to the scene. Due to the poor weather conditions, no medical helicopters could fly. Medic 18’s crew performed triage on the patients and transported one child after the remaining patients were immobilized and loaded. The 8 year old child suffered multiple traumatic injuries including head, chest, extremity injuries and severe respiratory difficulties. Firefighter-Paramedics decompressed his chest restoring lung function to the affected side. The patient’s respiratory condition improved immediately.

He was rapidly transported to Colleton Medical Center where the ED and Surgical Staff stabilized him. After 1-1/2 hours, Medic 26 then transferred him to the Pediatric Trauma Center at MUSC in Charleston. Traffic on I-95 was down to one lane for over an hour, causing it to back up for three miles. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Engine 1, Rescue 1, Medic 1, Medic 18, Medic 26, Medic 104, Battalion 1, Car 109 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Ben Heape served as Incident Commander.