21/August/2013 – MVC-MCI w/entrapment & Air Evacuation – “A” Shift

Incident # 13-04595 – A single vehicle roll-over accident resulted in nine injuries Wednesday evening 21-August. At 20:24, Dorchester County requested mutual aid with a fifteen passenger van the left the highway on Interstate 95. The van rolled down an embankment coming to rest on its roof. An adult female was trapped in the wreckage. Eight other patients received a variety of non-life threatening traumatic injuries. Colleton County units arrived to find an extrication in progress. Six patients, one adult and five children under the age of nine, were assigned to Colleton Medic 26 shortly after arrival. All suffered minor injuries. One Dorchester EMS crew was treating the critically injured trapped female, while a second Dorchester EMS crew treated the remaining serious patients. Two medical helicopters also responded, landing on the Interstate north of the accident. Multiple Dorchester Fire Units responded, including two Heavy Rescues. Northbound traffic was completely blocked for nearly an hour.

Dorchester County Firefighters used a variety of hydraulic, manual and pneumatic tools to free the woman during the extended extrication. Once freed, treatment of her injuries continued for several minutes before she could be removed from the van. She was immobilized, then placed into a Stokes Basket to be carried up the embankment. Dorchester EMS transported her approximately ¼ mile north to meet with a waiting helicopter. The woman was flown to the Trauma Center at MUSC in Charleston. The remaining patients were transported to Colleton Medical Center in Walterboro. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Dorchester County Fire responded with two Engines, two Heavy Rescues and several staff vehicles. Dorchester County EMS responded with two ambulances and a Supervisor. Colleton County Engine 5, Engine 26 (Rescue Engine), Medic 26, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Dorchester Deputy Chief Malcom Burns served as Incident Commander.