An adult female was seriously injured when her single engine crashed into a pond on private property in the 5000 block of Wiggins Road the morning of January 2, 2024. The site was well off the roadway and not visible from the road. The Piper aircraft had just taken off from Beaufort when it apparently suffered mechanical problems. The plane had turned back toward Beaufort. The property owner was in his yard when he heard the plane strike several trees and nosedive into a pond in his yard. He advised the plane engine was not running when it struck the tree. He ran to help the injured woman who was the only person in the plane. She was unconscious and had suffered multiple injuries. The plane was on the edge of the pond and one wing had been ripped off the fuselage spilling a lot of water into the pond and around the scene. The location of the sewas in a remote rural area. Firefighter-Paramedic arrived on scene as well as the CARE Flight Medical helicopter which was automatically dispatched. Crews arrived to find the woman in critical condition. With the assistance of bystanders, the pilot was removed from the aircraft and transported a short distance to meet the CARE Flight crew. Advanced medical procedures were performed. She was transported to the Trauma Center at MUSC.
Great response from all of #yourColletonHeroes. Everyone says, "It takes a village," and we are proud of our village! Thank you, CARE Flight, Colleton County Sheriff's Office, Colleton County Sheriff's Office-Communications Division, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division - SLED for assisting with the incident.
For more information visit colletonfire.com
