16/May/2020 – MVC with Air Evac – “C” Shift

Incident # 20-03218 – A 25 year old Walterboro man was critically injured in a multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 95 northbound at Exit 62 on the over-pass Saturday morning 16-May at 04:50. Fire-Rescue units arrived minutes following the crash, having just cleared up from a separate accident a mile away on the southbound side. A northbound Lexus struck the guardrail causing heavy damage to the car. The vehicle came to rest in the travel lanes blocking both lanes on the McLeod Road overpass. A northbound GMC pickup truck collided with the Lexus causing further damage and heavily damaging the pickup truck. A northbound tractor trailer was able to avoid hitting the car, but struck the bridge. The load in the trailer was propelled forward and broke through the front of the trailer striking the rear of the cab. The interstate was blocked by the damaged vehicles and debris. Firefighter-Paramedics found the driver of the Lexus unconscious in the grass just before the bridge. He suffered multiple traumatic injuries, a head injury and was in critical condition. Crews called for a medical helicopter and began treating the patient at the scene which included advanced airway procedures to maintain his airway. The truck driver and two people in the pickup truck were not injured. Traffic was detoured to the exit ramp and back on to I-95 at McLeod Road. Traffic was stopped again for about 20 minutes so the helicopter could land north of the accident. Fire-Rescue transferred patient care to the CARE Flight crew without incident and the patient was flown to the Trauma Center at MUSC. Recovery crews spent about four hours clearing the incident from the highway. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Engine 26, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 112 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Scott Feather served as Incident Commander.