Incident # 20-07445 - I-95 southbound near the 46 mile marker, south of the rest area, was blocked for several hours after two trucks collided Friday morning 30-October. At 06:16, 9-1-1 received several reports of the accident. Witnesses reported a southbound tractor trailer collided with a southbound box style truck. The collision caused the box style truck to overturn on the right shoulder. The roof came off of the loaded truck spilling the contents around the accident scene. The driver was trapped in the overturned truck. The tractor trailer went off into the wooded median, struck several trees and caught fire. The front of the trailer failed, spilling the entire contents of the load on to the cab. The driver was also trapped in the wreckage. The truck was transporting cans of tomato sauce. Engine 1 and Medic 1 arrived to find the highway blocked by debris. The cab of the tractor trailer was fully involved and the wooded median was also on fire. Additional units including two additional Fire-Rescue Ambulances, several Tenders and one Engine were requested. Firefighter-Paramedics deployed multiple hand lines to extinguish the tractor trailer, while other crewmembers used Holmatro Rescue Tools to extricate the driver of the box truck. He was freed after a short period and only suffered minor injuries. Once the fire was extinguished, crews located the driver in the destroyed tractor trailer's cab. He suffered fatal injuries. The Coroner was requested and responded to the scene. Once the Coroner's Investigation was complete, Firefighters used Holmatro Rescue Tools to extricate the driver. He was transported by the Coroner's Office. One southbound lane was eventually opened to allow traffic to begin to flow. It was several hours before both lanes were reopened. The SC Hwy Patrol is investigating the crash.
