By HEATHER RUPPE
Two dogs and their owners were safely rescued from an overturned vehicle last week.
The incident occurred on Interstate 95 near the 55-mile marker in Walterboro on Friday, July 9th, when a semi-truck left the road and then went down an embankment. The truck overturned, trapping the two truckers who were inside. Also trapped were the truckers’ two small dogs.
Firefighter-Paramedics used a ladder to reach the driver’s door and Holmatro Pentheon Rescue tools to force open the door, according to Barry McRoy, chief of Colleton County Fire-Rescue.
“Both of the men suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and were able to climb out of the cab and walk to the ambulance,” he said. “Firefighters entered the cab to retrieve both of the dogs. The animals were also evaluated at the scene and did not appear to be injured.”
The men and the dogs were then taken to Colleton Medical Center for further evaluation.
“Crews secured a diesel fuel leak from one of the saddle tanks,” said McRoy. “The box style trailer was carrying frozen chicken. A portion of the load spilled into the Jones Swamp Creek and swamp which runs adjacent to the Interstate, after one side and the roof of the trailer failed.”
The incident caused traffic in the southbound lane of I-95 to be backed up for about four miles.
The S.C. Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
