Incident # 21-06123 - A Florida truck driver is alive, thanks to some brave motorist following a high speed MVC on I-95 near the 67 mile marker southbound. The accident occurred Tuesday afternoon when the southbound semi-truck suffered a front tire blowout and crashed into the wooded median. The truck struck several trees and burst into flames. The vehicle received heavy damage and the driver suffered multiple injuries including injuries to his legs, preventing him from walking or climbing out of the truck. Initial reports to Colleton 9-1-1 indicated the driver was trapped in the heavily damaged cab. Bystanders worked feverishly until they were able to remove the driver from the burning cab and carried him a safe distance from the truck. A column of black smoke could be seen several miles from the scene. Fire-Rescue units arrived at the remote rural stretch of Interstate to find the truck deep in the median with the cab fully involved. Fire was impinging on the trailer. Firefighter-Paramedics began treating the injured man while other crew members deployed multiple hand lines to extinguish the fire. Firefighters used a chainsaw to cut a path into the wooded median. Another crew used hand tools to break into the trailer. The front portion of the load was on fire. A third handline was deployed to extinguish the fire in the trailer. No medical helicopters were immediately available, so the Fire-Rescue Medic 19 transported the truck driver emergent to the Trauma Center at Trident Medical Center in North Charleston. Traffic on I-95 was down to one lane for several hours and backed up several miles. The SC Highway Patrol and State Transport Police are investigating the accident.
Engine 26, Tender 1, Tender 19, Rescue 1, Medic 19, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 104, Car 109, Car 112, Car 118 and Car 119 responded. Battalion Chief Joey Campbell served as Incident Commander.
