14/February/2015 – Fatal MVC w/entrapment & Air Evac – “B” Shift

Incident # 15-00831 – One man died and three others were injured in a head-on collision in the 9000 block of Jefferies Hwy. (US Hwy 15) south of Kelly Bay Road Saturday morning 14-February at 05:18. The initial call to 9-1-1 indicated a vehicle was in the ditch with someone possibility injured. Medic 19 and Engine 19 arrived to find a Malibu off on the southbound shoulder with heavy front end damage. Firefighter-Paramedics found the driver heavily entrapped with had no signs of life, A front seat passenger was unconscious in critical condition. Two other people outside of the car were also found to be injured. A large amount of debris was discovered in the roadway north of the accident. Upon investigating, crews discovered a Trail Blazer on its side down an embankment on the northbound side of the highway. It too suffered heavy frontend damage. One of the patients found outside the car advised he was the driver and only occupant of the Trail Blazer. He had climbed out the SUV before emergency crews arrived. Two additional ambulances and a medical helicopter were requested. Jefferies Highway was blocked due to the accident. Crews treated the critical patient and transported him to a nearby field to meet with LifeNet 4.

The patient was RSIed prior to transport and was then flown to the Trauma Center at MUSC in Charleston. The other two patients were transported to Colleton Medical Center. The Coroner’s Office responded to the scene and after their investigation was complete, crews used Holmatro rescue tools to extricate the driver. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the accident. The Sheriff’s Office detoured traffic on Jefferies Highway for 2-1/2 hours.

Engine 19, Engine 26, Rescue 1, Medic 9, Medic 19, Medic 26, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.