21/June/2014 – Fatal MVC – “A” Shift

Incident # 14-03648 – A high speed single car MVC claimed the life a 17 year old Saturday morning 21-June at 02:37. Fire-Rescue was notified of an over-turned vehicle in the 7900 block of Charleston Highway with one person trapped under the car. When units arrived they found a heavily damaged Buick in the wood line, but there were no patients. One responding unit had reported several vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed away from the area toward Walterboro before he arrived. Firefighters set up scene lighting, used flashlights and thermal imaging cameras to search the wooded area around the accident site. There were no patients found. A passerby reported  several people came to the scene after the accident occurred. They pushed the over-turned vehicle upright off of the trapped patient, then loaded him and two other teenagers in a car. They did not wait on Paramedics and reportedly transported the patients by car to Colleton Medical Center. Medic 26 was at the ED following an unrelated medical response when the car arrived. The 17 year old was not breathing and did not have a pulse. Firefighter-Paramedics and ED Staff began resuscitative efforts and moved the patient to an ED room to continue the efforts. The patient did not survive.

Apparently, the westbound Buick was traveling at a high rate of speed and failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle began to enter the ditch, but commenced to flip over multiple times ejecting the occupants. The vehicle landed on the 17 year old. Units were on the scene for over three hours. The SC Highway Patrol and the Coroner’s Office is investigating the accident.

Engine 12, Medic 1, Medic 6, Rescue 1, Battalion 1, Car 12 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Dan Barb served as Incident Commander.