Incident # 20-04443 – A July 4th outing turned tragic when a small boat collided with a piling on the Edisto River south of the ACE Basin Parkway Bridge (US Hwy 17) at Jacksonboro Saturday morning at 00:54. The boat was traveling in the dark river after midnight when it struck a wooden piling ejecting the boat operator into the water and critically injuring an adult female. The female was unconscious following the impact. The other two adults searched the area for the missing driver, who was not wearing a life jacket, without success and they notified Colleton 9-1-1. Firefighter-Paramedics from Station # 2 in Jacksonboro arrived minutes after the dispatch and used a private boat to make contact with the boaters. They were directed back to a private boat landing off of Perkins Path to meet with Fire-Rescue Medic 6. The woman who remained unconscious was quickly treated at the scene, then transported emergent to the Trauma Center at MUSC in Fire-Rescue Medic 6. Additional personnel assisted with her care during the transport and advanced airway management was required to secure her breathing. She was in critical condition upon arriving at MUSC. The other two adult occupants receive minor injuries and refused ambulance transportation to the hospital. Fire-Rescue personnel in Marine 27, a private boat and several DNR Officers searched the river for the missing driver.
Coroner Richard Harvey responded to the scene. Engine 2, Medic 6, Medic 9, Medic 19, Dive 1, Marine 27, Battalion 1, Car 101, Car 112, Sheriff’s Deputies and DNR responded. Battalion Chief Scott O’Quinn served as Incident Commander.
