Incident # 21-07662 - A 31 yr old Summerville man was critically injured in a single vehicle, high speed MVC, in the 26300 block of August Hwy (SC Hwy 61) in the Maple Cane community Sunday evening 24-October at 23:22. Initial callers to 9-1-1, reported the vehicle was on fire and the driver was trapped. Fire-Rescue units arrived to find a Chevrolet pickup truck with heavy damage overturned at the wood line. Bystanders had extinguished the fire in the truck, but the engine, which was thrown 20 feet from the vehicle was still burning. The driver was still trapped in the wreckage. Firefighter-Paramedics began treating the man inside the truck, while other crew members used Holmatro Pentheon rescue tools to remove the vehicle's roof. The driver was restrained, but suffered multiple traumatic injuries and was in critical condition. Once extricated, he was transported emergent in Fire-Rescue Medic 9 with additional Firefighter-Paramedics on board to assist with his care. Medic 9 transported him to the Trauma Center at Trident Medical Center in North Charleston where he was taken to surgery shortly after arrival. The 2016 Chevrolet Silverado had been traveling south on Augusta Hwy., when it dropped off of the right shoulder, over-corrected, crossed both lanes and entered the north bound ditch. The truck struck a driveway culvert, became airborne and hit several trees. It rolled over before coming to rest on its side. A portion of one tree fell across the power lines knocking the lines to the ground. Emergency crews were on the scene for three hours assisting the wrecker service and Coastal Electric Power Company. The highway in the area of the accident was closed during that period. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. Colleton County Sheriff's Office assisted with traffic control.
Engine 9, Medic 9, Rescue 1, Battalion 1, Car 112 and Car 118 responded. Firefighter-EMT Steve Pelton served as Incident Commander.
