23/April/2015 – MVC w/double Entrapment – “B” Shift

Incident # 15-02195 – Two women were injured, one severely, in a head-on collision in the 2600 block of Cottageville Hwy (US Hwy17-A) east of Phillips Road Thursday afternoon 23-April. At 17:20, Fire-Rescue was notified of the two car accident on the busy highway. Initial callers to 9-1-1 advised both drivers were trapped in the wreckage. Engine 19 arrived to find two passenger cars in the roadway with heavy damage. The entire roadway was blocked by the vehicles and debris. Two additional Fire-Rescue Ambulances were assigned to the incident and a medical helicopter was placed on standby. Two off-duty Firefighter-EMTs drove up on the accident shortly after it occurred and began assisting the patients. Firefighter-Paramedics conducted both extrications simultaneously using multiple Holmatro Rescue Tools. The driver of the Chevy Volt was extricated in less than ten minutes, however the driver of the Impala was heavily entrapped. Crews removed both driver’s side doors of the Impala and the “B” post with hydraulic spreaders and cutters. A hydraulic ram was used to displace the dash and driver’s seat allowing the patient to be extricated with full spinal precautions. Firefighter-Paramedics treated the 50 year old woman for over 35 minutes during the extrication with bleeding control, IV fluids and pain management. Once removed from the car, the patient was quickly moved to Medic 26.

The medical helicopter was not able to fly the patient, so she was rapidly transported by Medic 26 directly to the Trauma Center at MUSC in Charleston. The driver of the Chevy Volt was transported to Colleton Medical Center. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Engine 19, Rescue 1, Medic 1, Medic 9, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 12, Car 107, Car 118 and Car 119 responded. Battalion Chief Ben Heape served as Incident Commander.

Photos by Harold Buzzell