Irmo, S.C. – First responders from Irmo and Columbia Fire Departments worked together last night to rescue a driver trapped after a serious collision on Interstate 26 Westbound near the Broad River Road exit (mile marker 101).
The crash occurred when an SUV collided with the rear of a fully loaded semi-truck. The impact caused the SUV to become lodged partially underneath the trailer. Remarkably, the truck driver initially believed he had only experienced a blown tire and did not realize a vehicle was trapped beneath his trailer until he pulled over onto the shoulder several hundred feet down the road.
The SUV’s driver was trapped inside the crushed vehicle. Firefighters from both Irmo and Columbia spent more than 45 minutes stabilizing the heavy trailer and cutting through parts of the wrecked SUV to free the driver. Despite the severity of the crash, the driver was awake and alert throughout the ordeal and was transported by EMS with what were described as moderate injuries.
Fire officials highlighted the importance of seatbelts and airbags, saying those safety features likely saved the driver’s life. “Without those protections, this would have been a very different story,” a department spokesperson noted.
Both fire departments maintain specialized equipment and regularly train for rescue situations involving heavy vehicles and severe entrapment. That preparation proved vital during this incident.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is currently investigating the cause of the crash.
Officials remind the public that while speculation often follows serious accidents, it’s best to rely on facts provided by investigating authorities and to allow emergency professionals to do their jobs without distractions or rumors.
Photos from Irmo Fire District
