Incident # 26-02751 - Multiple people were injured when two parked vehicles were struck by a semi-truck near the 55 mile marker northbound Saturday morning 04-April at 05:04. The passenger cars were parked in the breakdown lane near the bridge entering the Great Swamp. They were struck in the rear by the northbound semi-truck. One vehicle was thrown into the woods, while the other was pushed into the median side lane on the bridge. Both vehicles contained members of the same family and received heavy damage. The adult was standing outside of the vehicle when it was struck. The patient suffered multiple extensive injuries and was found unconscious at the scene. The minor was inside the back seat of one of the passenger cars and received multiple injuries. Two other patients, in separate vehicles, received non-life threatening injuries. The semi-truck struck the bridge and sent into the river beneath the bridge. The cab filled with water. The driver was not injured and was able to safely exit the cab. Firefighters assisted the driver up the embankment. Firefighter-Paramedics began treating the critically injured patient and requested a medical helicopter to respond to the scene, as well as an additional Fire-Rescue ambulance and Engine. All patients were treated at the scene. CARE Flight landed on the bridge and flew the patient to the Trauma Center at HCA Trident Hospital in North Charleston. Fire-Rescue Medic 26 transported the children and the adult to the Shawn Jenkins Children's Trauma Center at MUSC. I-95 northbound was closed for several hours until the accident could be cleared. All traffic was rerouted through Walterboro for most of the Saturday morning. The accident is being investigated by the SC Highway Patrol. The Sheriff's Office assisted with traffic control.
Engine 1, Engine 26, Medic 1, Medic 26, Rescue 1, Battalion 1 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.
