17/October/2015 – MVC w/entrapment & Air Evac x2 – “A” Shift

Incident # 15-06030 – Five people from a Massachusetts Church, returning from a mission trip, were injured in a single vehicle accident on I-95 near the 41 mile marker northbound, Saturday morning 17-Oct at 03:56. The 2011 Toyota minivan left the roadway at a high rate of speed, drove down an embankment and struck several trees. The front seat passenger was heavily entrapment in the wreckage. Firefighter-Paramedics from nearby Station 13 arrived within minutes and were confronted with multiple trauma patients, including a baby. Crews requested two additional ambulances from Colleton County and one from nearby Hampton County. The accident was less than a mile from the county line. Two medical helicopters were also requested, as the initial crew members began treating the injured. Hampton County EMS transported an adult female and child to Colleton Medical Center. Other Firefighter-Paramedics treated the remaining injured and used Holmatro Rescue Tools to extricate the passenger. A hydraulic spreader was utilized to remove the front passenger door and two hydraulic rams were then placed in the door opening to displace the dash. Several pieces of debris had to be forced free from around the patient’s legs before he could be extricated from the van. The extrication took approximately 15 minutes.

A Landing Zone was established approximately 1 mile north of the scene due to tree cover at the accident site. LifeNet 4 landed on the exit ramp, then flew an adult male to the Trauma Center at MUSC. LifeNet 7 circled the scene until LifeNet 4 departed. LifeNet 7 also landed on the exit ramp and flew the trapped patient to the Trauma Center at MUSC. The remaining patient was transported by Medic 26 to Colleton Medical Center. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.

Engine 13, Medic 1, Medic 13, Medic 26, Rescue 1, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Hampton County EMS and Yemassee Police Department also responded. Battalion Chief Dan Barb served as Incident Commander.