A motorcyclist was killed and his passenger critically injured after their motorcycle was struck head-on by a passenger car on Cottageville Hwy (US Hwy 17-A) at the Edisto River Saturday afternoon March 9. At 2:49 pm, Colleton 9-1-1 received several reports of the accident with callers advising of multiple injured people. Three Fire-Rescue Ambulances were dispatched to the accident. Bystanders provided care for the injured until First Responders arrived. Medic 9 arrived first and determined the adult male driver of the Harley Davidson motorcycle was deceased with multiple traumatic injuries. The adult female passenger also suffered multiple life threatening injuries and was found in the middle of the highway. Firefighter-Paramedics quickly treated the woman at the scene, then transported her emergent to the Trauma Center at Trident Medical Center with additional personnel onboard to assist with her care. They administered lifesaving whole blood and other medications enroute to the Trauma Center. The two adult occupants of the passenger car were also injured. Crews treated both of them at the scene. They were transported by Fire-Rescue Medic 19 also to the Trauma Center at Trident Medical Center.
The Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling northbound on Cottageville Hwy., when the southbound Chevrolet Malibu crossed into the northbound lane striking the motorcycle. It is believed the driver of the car suffered a medical emergency and was unconscious just prior to the crash. Cottageville Hwy in the area of the accident was closed for three hours while the Coroner’s Office and SC Highway Patrol performed their investigations. Colleton and Dorchester County Sheriff’s Offices detoured traffic during that period.
Colleton Dispatchers were able to utilize a new tool to improve the dispatching of the incident. They recently implemented a system called “Prepared Live” which allows callers to 9-1-1 to activate the camera on their cell phone so the Dispatcher can actually view the scene in real time. In this case the caller was calm and allowed the Dispatcher to view the entire scene. They were able to determine additional resources were required to manage the incident. Three ambulances were sent shortly after the initial dispatch. This got the right amount of ambulances and personnel to the scene quicker. We are thankful to the caller for assisting. It made a difference.
