09/May/2018 – High Speed MVC – “A” Shift

Incident # 18-03286 – A truck driver is fortunate to be alive after a single vehicle, high speed MVC on Interstate 95 near the 40 mile marker northbound. The accident occurred Wednesday evening at 20:03 after the northbound semi suffered a front tire blowout causing the truck to lose control and leave the roadway. The truck drove down an embankment into the swamp near the Combahee River. The vehicle struck several trees destroying the cab, which was completely dislodged from the frame and over turned. The front of the trailer failed causing the entire load of fruit to be expelled forward on to the cab and into the swamp. The right side of the trailer was also ripped off from colliding with several trees. The diesel tanks were damaged causing approximately 200 gallons of diesel fuel to leak into the swamp. The truck driver was able to escape from the crumpled cab and climb up the roadway. Firefighter-Paramedics found him near the guardrail with multiple non-life threatening traumatic injuries. Crews treated him at the scene, then transported him to Colleton Medical Center in Fire-Rescue Medic 13. DHEC responded with a representative and a private contractor was contacted to clean up the fuel leak. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Engine 1, Medic 13, Battalion 1 and Car 112 responded. Firefighter-Paramedic Chris Dukes served as Incident Commander.