01/July/2013 – Multi-vehicle MVC – “A” Shift

Incident # 13-03561 – At 12:22 Monday afternoon 01-July, Fire-Rescue was notified of a multi-vehicle MVC on Interstate 95 near the 61 mile marker northbound. The caller reported several vehicles involved including a tractor trailer. Engine 26 arrived to find the northbound lanes stopped for half of a mile and eight damaged vehicles scattered about the scene including a tractor trailer truck on its side in the median. Witnesses reported a vehicle had lost several pieces of lumber which fell on to the highway, including a least one large 4x4 post. That vehicle did not stop. A number of vehicles swerved to avoid the lumber, but several struck the wood and other vehicles collided causing a chain reaction accident. The tractor trailer was hauling tomatoes, some of which spilled into the highway. Engine 26 requested additional resources due to the accident being spread out over half of a mile. Most injuries were minor and no one initially requested ambulance transportation to the hospital. The truck driver was later transported by Medic 26 to Colleton Medical Center. 

Approximately 25 minutes into the incident, enough vehicles were moved to open up one northbound lane to allow traffic to begin moving freely. Northbound holiday traffic backed up for seven miles. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Engine 26, Medic 1, Medic 19, Medic 26, Rescue 1, Battalion 1, Car 105, Car 111, Car 119 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.