A five vehicle accident involving three passenger cars and two semi-trucks, sent four people to the Trauma Center Wednesday afternoon September 18th. The accident occurred near the 56-mile marker southbound during a thunderstorm. Both lanes of the interstate were blocked by the vehicles and debris in the roadway. Three ambulances from Colleton County Fire-Rescue responded to the accident. Two of the passenger cars received heavy damage after colliding with the semi-trucks. A Nissan Rogue was hit by several vehicles and ended up against the cable barrier in the median. A Ford Escape also received heavy damage after colliding with one of the semi-trucks. Two occupants in both cars each received multiple injuries. All four were treated at the scene by Firefighter-Paramedics, then transported to the Trauma Center at Trident Medical Center. No medical helicopters could fly due to poor weather conditions. Two people were in the third passenger car but were not injured. Neither truck driver received any injuries. Southbound traffic was blocked for about 30 minutes. Many motorists self-detoured through Walterboro, causing increased traffic flows and several secondary accidents on Bells Hwy. Crews were able to clear the breakdown lane allowing a single lane of travel through the accident site. Traffic was slow in the area for three hours until the accident was cleared. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.
