Incident # 21-08539 - A two vehicle, high speed MVC, sent four people to a Trauma Center Sunday evening 28-November at 20:17. Two patients, one child and one adult female received life-threatening injuries. The accident occurred near the 43 mile marker northbound when a Volkswagen Passat collided with a trailer being pulled by the second vehicle. The Passat then entered the median where it struck a tree causing heavy damage to the car. The engine was propelled approximately 20 feet from the car and a tree was against the fire wall. The adult female passenger was trapped in the wreckage. Two children were in the back seat and received injuries. The male driver also received multiple, but non-life threatening injuries. Busy northbound traffic was down to one lane for 1-1/2 hours, causing traffic to back up for several miles. Firefighter-Paramedics treated all four patients from the Passat at the scene. No one was injured in the second vehicle. The crew from Fire-Rescue Medic 13 transported the two children and the adult male to the Trauma Center at MUSC. Additional Firefighter-Paramedics assisted with their care enroute to MUSC. Crews used Holmatro extrication equipment to free the trapped female. They worked for 25 minutes to free the woman while they treated her injuries. A medical helicopter was requested and CARE Flight landed at the northbound Rest Area. Fire-Rescue Medic 1 transported her to the Rest Area and transferred her care to the Flightcrew. She was flown to the Trauma Center at MUSC. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
Engine 1, Engine 13, Medic 1, Medic 13, Rescue 1, Battalion 1 and Car 112 responded. Battalion Chief Scott O'Quinn served as Incident Commander. Firefighter-EMT Kevin Morales served as LZ Coordinator.
