A single car MVC in the 7900 block of Ritter Road south of Walterboro SC, sent a 55 year old Green Pond woman to the trauma center. At 19:37 on Thursday afternoon 26-May, a caller reported the accident advising a car left the roadway and overturned. The caller advised he could not locate the patient and thought they might have been ejected. A Colleton Sheriff’s Deputy arrived moments later and advised the driver was trapped inside the car.

Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue Medic 6 went on-scene a few minutes later, noting the vehicle had heavy damage and was over-turned in the ditch. Apparently the westbound car left the roadway and struck a driveway culvert on the eastbound side of the road. The driveway caused the car to become airborne. It then struck an oak tree approximately six feet off the ground before flipping over in the ditch. The female driver was heavily entrapped inside. She was in critical condition, suffering from multiple traumatic injuries.

Firefighter-Paramedics forced entry into the vehicle and began administering care. Other crewmembers stabilized the car and used Holmatro Rescue tools to remove the driver’s side doors, “B” post, steering wheel, and front seat. The patient was immobilized and extricated with spinal precautions. The extrication took approximately 20 minutes. She was transported directly to the trauma center at the Medical University in Charleston by Fire-Rescue Medic 6 with additional firefighter-paramedics assisting with her care. Traffic in the area of the accident was blocked for an hour. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Engine 2, Medic 6, Rescue 1, Battalion 1, Car 12 and Car 107 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.

Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

Barry W. McRoy photo

Barry W. McRoy photo

Barry W. McRoy photo

Barry W. McRoy photo