A Walterboro woman was seriously injured in a four vehicle MVC on I-95 near the 65 mile marker northbound, Wednesday evening 27-January at 18:37. A passenger car, SUV, full-sized pickup truck and a tractor trailer collided on the dark stretch of rural Interstate. The SUV, carrying an adult female and two small children overturned blocking both lanes of the busy highway. The woman was trapped in the wreckage. The passenger car came to rest in the center of the road south of the overturned SUV. Click here for more information.
Congratulations to Firefighter/Paramedic Karl Knipp on completing the requirements for and obtaining his Critical Care Paramedic (CCEMTP).
Congratulations to Firefighter/Flight-Paramedic Brandon Broach for being promoted to Engineer/Flight-Paramedic. Broach completed his Engineer requirements on January 29, 2021. The requirements included obtaining many additional courses and completing challenging written and skills evaluations.
Congratulations to Captain Janet Laney for obtaining the South Carolina Certified Emergency Manager (SC CEM) Certification. Obtaining SC CEM is an arduous process requiring the completion of many training classes and a detailed application packet. Her certification was announced at the SC Emergency Management Association quarterly meeting on January 28, 2021.
A 41 year old Oakman Branch man died from injuries received after he was struck by two cars in the 11500 block of Augusta Hwy. (SC Hwy 61) Sunday evening 24-January. He was walking near his home when he was struck by the first vehicle. Family members heard the impact and ran outside to see what happened. The man was laying in the roadway when a second vehicle approached. Click here for more information.
The Law Enforcement Memorial for Detective Sergeant Edward Marcurella is taking place on Saturday, January 23, 2021 at 3 pm at Colleton County High School Stadium (150 Cougar Nation Drive). The memorial is open for all who wish to pay tribute to Sgt. Marcurella's life and legacy. Sgt. Marcurella tragically passed away after a short but strong-willed battle with COVID-19 and Pneumonia.
All memorial attendees are to follow COVID-19 regulations and precautions to ensure everyone's safety. In the event of inclement weather, the memorial will still take place. Please follow reliable news sources for up-to-date weather conditions.
The law enforcement procession will begin at 2:20 pm at Brice Herndon Funeral Home. The Colleton County Sheriff's Office will escort Sgt. Marcurella to Cougar Stadium for the memorial service. The route of travel is as follows:
- Right onto Bells Hwy from Brice Herndon Funeral Home
- Left onto Robertson Blvd by Faith Church
- Left onto Hwy 15 by CVS
- Hwy 15 to Cougar Nation Drive
Members of the community are invited and encouraged to line the route to pay their respects to Detective Sgt. Edward Marcurella. Please do so safely and responsibly.
At 19:13, Thursday evening 14-January, 9-1-1 received several reports of a mobile home on fire near the intersection of Cales Ln and Ivory Ct. Engine 19 arrived at 86 Cales Lane to find the single wide mobile home approximately 80% involved. Firefighters deployed two hand lines to the building and quickly knocked down the fire. The mobile home was mostly destroyed and the family lost most of their belongings. No one was at home when the fire started and no injuries were reported. Fire units were on the scene for two hours performing overhaul. Click here for more information.
A 36 yr.old Ruffin woman was shot in the head during an altercation at a residence in the 200 block of Clatty Farm Road in Ruffin, Tuesday morning 12-January. 9-1-1 was notified of the incident at 08:22. The Sheriff's Office and Fire-Rescue units responded and found the woman semi-conscious in the yard. The home was located a good distance from the road. A small child was also in the residence, but was not injured. Firefighter-Paramedics quickly treated the woman. A medical helicopter was requested but could not fly due to poor weather conditions, including fog. Click here for more information.
A Colleton County teenager was critically injured in a two vehicle MVC in the 4300 block of Jefferies Hwy. (US Hwy 15) just south of Winchester Rd Friday afternoon 08-January at 16:48. The 19 yr.old male was traveling southbound when his Nissan Maxima collided with the rear of a flatbed tractor trailer that was making a left turn. The Nissan received heavy damage and the unrestrained driver was trapped in the wreckage. The driver of the semi-truck was not injured. Fire-Rescue units arrived minutes later and quickly used Holmatro Rescue Tools to extricate the driver. Click here for more information.
A two vehicle high speed MVC sent two people to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries Thursday evening 07-January. The accident occurred at 18:40 on Augusta Hwy (SC Hwy. 61) at Round O Road when an eastbound sedan collided with an SUV that pulled out from Round O Road causing heavy damage to both vehicles. The SUV was pulling a trailer carrying another car. The accident blocked the roadway and caused traffic to be detoured for about 1-1/2 hours until the wreckage could be cleared. Both patients were transported to Colleton Medical Center by separate Fire-Rescue ambulances. Click here for more information.
Fire-Rescue continues to vaccinate its personnel in Phase 1a, which includes healthcare workers and long-term care facility residents / staff (Dr. David Greene, Deputy Chief & Emergency Manager with the Fire-Rescue Department pictured here). When can you get yours? SC DHEC has more information on the vaccination efforts in South Carolina at www.scdhec.gov/vaxfacts.
Attention all full-time, part-time, and volunteer firefighting personnel: There are new procedures for registering for your annual physical this year. All full-time, part-time, and volunteer firefighting personnel must have a completed Fire Brigade Clearance Form sent to Fire-Rescue Headquarters by April 15, 2021. Click here for more information.
A two vehicle MVC at the intersection of ACE Basin Parkway (US Hwy 17) and Wood Road in Green Pond, injured two people and sent one person to the hospital.The accident occurred Monday evening 04-January at 20:16. Two passenger cars collided in the intersection causing one vehicle to block a north bound lane. The second vehicle crossed the gas station parking lot. It received substantial damage to the driver's side, trapping the driver in the wreckage. Firefighter-Paramedics stabilized the car and used Holmatro Rescue Tools to remove the driver's door and free the occupant. Click here for more information.
At 00:22 Monday morning 04-January, Medic 6 and the Sheriff's Office responded to a reported Psychiatric patient on Possum Corner Road. Immediately on arrival, they were met by an adult female indicating a life threatening situation existed inside the residence. Personnel ran toward the home and as they passed the female, she ran to the Deputy's car, entered the vehicle and attempted to flee the scene. As she quickly accelerated in reverse, she drove the Sheriff's cruiser into the front of Medic 6 damaging both vehicles. Click here for more information.
Are you a talented, skilled, and caring Firefighter, Paramedic, FF/EMT, or FF/Paramedic? Don't miss our next pre-employment testing on 1/14/2021! Join our team & work alongside the best in the Fire-Rescue service. Email your resume/certs to jobs@colletoncounty.org.
Incident # 21-00079 - A fire on the stove caused heavy damage to the kitchen in a single wide mobile home at 11510 Augusta Hwy., Sunday afternoon 03-January at 13:04. The fire spread to the cabinets, but the homeowner was able to control the fire with a garden hose until Fire-Rescue arrived. Firefighters used one hand line to conduct overhaul. The fire damage was contained to the area of the kitchen, but the remainder of the home suffered smoke damage. The fire started on the stove. The Red Cross is assisting the family. No injuries were reported in the incident. Click here for more information.
Incident # 21-00072 - A workshop and storage building received heavy damage in an early morning fire at 34 Bentley Dr. north of Walterboro Sunday 03-January. Engine 19 arrived to find the two buildings well involved and three other storage buildings on the property endangered. Firefighter-Paramedics deployed multiple hand lines to combat the fire. They were able to protect the three exposures, however the two buildings that were on fire suffered substantial damage. Units were on the scene for close to two hours. The occupant advised he had been working on a gas powered piece of equipment just prior to fire. Click here for more information.
Incident # 21-00065 - A single vehicle, high speed MVC occurred at the 59 mile marker south bound Sunday morning 03-January at 07:26. A Chevrolet Tahoe left the roadway and entered the wood line, striking several trees. A family of nine were in the SUV. Two family members received injuries, one with a head injury. A medical helicopter was requested but had a long ETA due to being tied up from an earlier MVC, so Medic 13 transported the patient emergent to the Trauma Center at Trident Hospital. One other occupant was transported to Colleton Medical Center. Click here for more information.
At 05:31 Sunday morning 03-January, Engine 1 and Medic 13 were sent to I-95 at the 42 mile marker southbound for a multi-vehicle accident. Medic 13 arrived to find one Audi in the median with heavy damage and the female driver entrapped in the wreckage. A Dodge truck pulling a car hauling trailer had jack-knifed and was south of the Audi. It had struck a tree, receiving heavy damage and the male driver was heavily entrapped in the wreckage. A third car (VW) had collided with the Dodge truck. Crews requested a Rescue Unit, one additional Fire-Rescue Ambulance and a medical helicopter. The car hauling trailer had lost several of the vehicles from the trailer which had fallen into the median. While attending to the injured, a southbound Hyundai SantaFe struck the back of the trailer which was blocking the median side travel lane. Click here for more information.
On Saturday evening, 02-January at 23:35, Engine 26 was working a single car MVC on I-95 at the 60 Mile Marker northbound. After being on scene for 45 minutes during a thunderstorm, a Nissan Altima traveling at a high rate of speed, collided with the rear of Engine 26. Both vehicles received heavy damage and the Nissan caught fire. Engine 26 was still running, so Firefighters engaged the pump and deployed one handline to extinguish the fire. Initially, they had no access to the driver of the Nissan. The rescue tools on the Engine were damaged. Crews were able to use hand tools to break a window and force open a door to reach the patient. The 42 year old male suffered multiple traumatic injuries and had no signs of life. No Fire-Rescue personnel were injured and the Engine prevented the vehicle from reaching the other accident victims and the wrecker crew. Click here for more information.
An adult female perished in a single car MVC in the 3100 block of Can City Road Friday morning 01-January. The incident was reported at 08:38 by a passing motorist, however it is believed the accident occurred several hours earlier. It appeared the 2001 Mercedes was traveling southbound on Can City Rd when it failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle struck a tree and overturned in the woods on the rural road. The car received heavy damage and came to rest on the passenger's side. Firefighter-Paramedics arrived minutes later and discovered the driver was deceased, suffering from multiple traumatic injuries. She was trapped in the wreckage. Additional units and the Coroner's Office were requested. Click here for more information.