01/Sept/2015 – High Speed MVC – “C” Shift

Incident # 15-05020 – Four people were injured in a three vehicle crash in the 18000 block of Augusta Hwy (SC Hwy. 61), Tuesday morning 01-Sept. At 05:19, 9-1-1 Operators were notified of a single car that had struck a fallen tree laying across Augusta Highway near Ponderosa Lane. When responders arrived, two additional vehicle had also been involved in the collision. The fallen tree was blocking the entire highway and one pickup truck with heavy damage was blocking the west bound lane. The other two vehicles had driven off of the roadway. A pickup truck was down an embankment in the woods and a Ford Explorer was in the creek, the front portion submerged. The rural section of highway passes through a swamp where the accident occurred and was very dark preventing the motorist from seeing the tree until they were upon it. A second ambulance was requested before Medic 9 arrived. A civilian assisted a wheel chair bound woman from the creek back up to the highway. Four people were treated at the scene by Firefighter-Paramedics, with three requiring transport to Colleton Medical Center. The fourth injured person denied a need for further medical attention. The highway was blocked for two hours until the tree and vehicles could be removed from the roadway. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the accident. SCDOT also responded.  

Engine 19, Medic 9, Medic 19, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Capt. Ethan Shider served as Incident Commander.