20/September/2020 – Fatal MVC with Entrapment & Air Evac – “B” Shift 

Incident # 20-06448 – Seven people were transported to area hospitals following a two vehicle high speed MVC on I-95 near the 53 mile marker Sunday afternoon 20-September. At 16:47, 9-1-1 began receiving multiple reports of the collision just south of Exit 53. Callers reported a north bound Dodge Avenger crossed through the median and struck a southbound Toyota Tacoma head-on causing heavy damage to both vehicles. Firefighter-Paramedics arrived minutes later to find the southbound lanes of I-95 blocked by the Tacoma, debris and bystander’s vehicles. The Avenger was off of the right side of the road, over-turned in the ditch. Two adult females were inside the front of the Tacoma with critical traumatic injuries. Three male juveniles were out of the vehicle laying on the ground with various injuries. A 12 year old was also severely injured. Crews requested two medical helicopters and three additional Fire-Rescue ambulances to responded to the scene. The injured were treated and the CARE Flight helicopter landed on the Interstate just south of the accident scene. The 12 yr. old was transferred to the Flight Crew, then flown the Children’s Trauma Center at MUSC in Charleston. The remaining patients were treated at the scene, then transported to the Peds and Adult Trauma Centers at MUSC. The driver of the Avenger was deceased at the scene. The bystanders, who consisted of several nurses and off-duty Firefighter-EMTs, were of great assistance caring for the injured prior to the arrival of Fire-Rescue and during the treatment of the injured. The Coroner’s Office responded and investigated the crash. Once they completed their investigation, Firefighter-Paramedics used Holmatro Rescue Tools to extricate the driver. He was transported to CMC by the Coroner’s Office. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the accident. Southbound traffic on I-95 was completely stopped for over an hour. It was detoured to Sniders Hwy and backed up over five miles.

Engine 1, Medic 1, Medic 13, Medic 19, Medic 26, Rescue 1, Battalion 1, Car 105, Car 112, Car 116 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.