12/June/2016 – Tornado Incident w MVC – “A” Shift

Incident # 16-03652 – A severe weather event quickly ran through the southern portion of Colleton County Sunday afternoon, causing wind damage and what witness advised was a tornado that crossed I-95 near the 45 mile marker at 16:42. The event knocked down several trees from the 46 to the 44 mile markers on both the north and southbound sides of the highway. Debris was in the roadway from the 44 mile marker as far north as the 49 mile marker. Traffic was stopped in both directions for over eight miles. On the northbound side, a group of trees near the 45 mile marker fell on one car, crushing the vehicle and sending one adult male to the hospital. Firefighters used chainsaws to clear one lane to get northbound traffic moving. A second tree was removed at the 46 mile marker northbound. Travels assisted with moving the tree limbs out of the road on both side of the highway. SC DOT crews responded with heavy equipment and cleared the remaining debris and trees from the highway. Two other vehicles received damage from the falling trees, but no one else was injured. Sheriff’s Deputies conducted traffic control. Coastal Electric was dealing with power outages in the area with multiple downed power lines and downed trees in the Hendersonville Community.  

Engine 1, Medic 1, Medic 13, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Battalion Chief Scott O’Quinn served as Incident Commander.