23/September/2019 – MVC with entrapment & Air Evac – “B” Shift

Incident # 19-06638 - Four people were injured in a four vehicle accident in the 4800 block of Sniders Hwy. (SC Hwy 63) at Cane Street Monday evening 23-September at 19:45. A northbound Toyota Corolla collided at a high rate of speed with a stopped Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck that was turning on to Cane Street. Both vehicles were pushed into the southbound lane where they struck the side of a southbound Dodge van, before stopping in the ditch. The van lost control, entered the northbound lane and struck an Infinity QX50 passenger car head-on causing heavy damage to both vehicles. According to bystanders, the adult male driver of the van was ejected from his vehicle and found lying on the southbound shoulder with multiple traumatic injuries. The adult female driver of the Infinity also suffered multiple traumatic injuries and was trapped in the wreckage of her vehicle. The van was loaded with tools, equipment and 5 gallon plastic containers of hydraulic fluid. The side doors of the van failed and the plastic containers were breached spilling approximately 30 gallons of hydraulic fluid on the highway, which mixed with gasoline and other fluids from the damaged cars. Tools and equipment littered the highway. First arriving Fire-Rescue units found four patients, two with severe to critical injuries. Three additional Fire-Rescue ambulances and two medical helicopters were requested. Firefighter-Paramedics began treating the injured and deployed one handline From Engine 1 to protect those engaged in the extrication of the female patient in the Infinity.

Oil dry was applied in an attempt to absorb some of the hydraulic fluid. Sheriff’s Deputies assisted with traffic control and blocked off Sniders Highway at Pellum Road and Rentz Drive. The Highway remained closed for 4-1/2 hours until the wreckage could be removed and the hydraulic fluid was secured. Firefighter-Paramedics used Holmatro Rescue Tools to extricate the driver of the Infinity. She was treated during the extrication, then transported emergent by Fire-Rescue to meet with the C.A.R.E. Flight helicopter at the helipad at Colleton Medical Center. She was flown in critical condition to the Trauma Center at Trident Hospital. Due to an extended ETA of the second helicopter it was cancelled. The driver of the van was quickly treated at the scene, then transported emergent by a Fire-Rescue Ambulance to the Trauma Center at Trident Hospital. The remaining two patients, suffered non-life threatening injuries and were transported to Colleton Medical Center in Walterboro. SCDOT also responded and used a sand truck to cover the large amount of hydraulic fluid on the highway. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Engine 1, Rescue 1, Medic 1, Medic 7, Medic 13, Medic 13, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 112 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.