15/July/2016 – MVC w/double entrapment & Air Evac – “A” Shift

Incident # 16-04521 – Two adults were severely injured and three children were transported following a single vehicle high speed MVC in the 400 block of Bent Gate Lane Friday evening 15-July. At approximately 19:00, an east bound car lost control on the rural dirt road, crossed a ditch and began to flip over. The car struck a large pine tree roof first causing extensive damage to the Ford Escape. The roof over the front seats was pushed almost to the floor trapping both front seat occupants. Three children in the back seat were able to crawl out of the damaged car. Firefighter-Paramedics arrived to find the three children ambulatory at the scene. The two adults were heavily entrapped in the wreckage. Their legs were pinned under the dash, while their upper bodies had been pushed in the back seats after breaking the backs of the front seats. It was miraculous that they survived the collision. Crews stabilized the vehicle and began treating both patients inside the damaged car. IVs and pain management were administered. Due to an extended extrication, two medical helicopters were requested and landed in a field off of the 6800 block of Sunrise Road near Fire Station 17, approximately one mile from the scene. Engine 7 coordinated the landing zone. Crews treated the three children for non-life threatening traumatic injuries.

Holmatro Rescue tools were utilized to remove the roof, however saws and a mini cutter had to be used near the patients on the  passenger side due to the crushed vehicle collapsing in on the patients. Cribbing was inserted between the roof, “A” & “B” posts and doors to prevent the metal from pressing in on the patients. The first patient was extricated after 38 minutes. Firefighters had to displace the dash to free the second patient’s legs. The second patient was extricated in 63 minutes. Both were transported by ambulance to the landing zone, then flown by LifeNet 3 and LifeNet 4 to the Trauma Center at MUSC in Charleston. The children were transported by Medic 18 to Colleton Medical Center in Walterboro and released later in the evening. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Engine 7, Engine 17. Engine 26, Rescue 1, Medic 18, Medic 26, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Battalion Chief Scott O’Quinn served as Incident Commander.