Incident # 24-05241 - A two vehicle head-on collision in the 9700 block of Lowcountry Hwy. (US Hwy 21) south of Cane Branch Rd, critically injured three people, Tuesday afternoon 09-July. At 16:37, 9-1-1 received several reports of the accident. A northbound Chevrolet pickup and a southbound Lexus collided, heavily damaging both vehicles and trapping the occupants of the Lexus. Two Fire-Rescue ambulances were assigned to the incident, with a third being added when 9-1-1 callers advised of additional patients. Engine 13 and Medic 13 arrived to find the highway blocked. They began treating the injured patients and used the Holmatro Pentheon rescue tools from Engine 13 to extricate the people in the Lexus. Two medical helicopters were requested due to the severity of the injuries. Several bystanders were helpful in assisting at the scene. Engine 18 was dispatched to a large field at Sniders Crossroads to set up a landing zone for the helicopters. CARE Flight responded and landed in the field. The second helicopter was canceled due to an extended ETA. Medic 1 transported a female passenger to meet with CARE Flight. Additional Firefighter-Paramedics assisted with patient care at the landing zone. CARE Flight flew the patient to the Trauma Center at Memorial Medical Center in Savannah. Poor weather conditions in Charleston prevented the helicopter from flying there. Medic 13 transported an adult male to the Trauma Center at Trident Medical Center and Medic 18 transported an adult male to the Trauma Center at MUSC. Both ambulances had additional Firefighter-Paramedics onboard to assist with the patient care. Lowcountry Hwy. in the area of the accident was closed for two hours. The Sheriff's Office detoured traffic during that time. Sheriff Hill also responded to the scene to assist. The SC Highway Patrol is handling the investigation of the crash.
Engine 13, Engine 18, Medic 1, Medic 13, Medic 18, Rescue 1, CARE Flight, Battalion 1, Car 103, Car 105, Car 107, Car 111, Car 118 and Car 119 responded. Battalion Chief Scott O'Quinn served as Incident Commander.
