October 11, 2005, 10:45 pm -- Station 7 responded to a MVA involving a moped and a minivan on 10177 Highway 17 North, in front of Colonial Mall. Engine 7, Medic 7 responded.
A few moments later, Horry County Fire Rescue Engine 7 crew, Lt. Lee Morse and FF/EMT Bryan Stokes arrived and confirmed a moped that was laying on its side. Medic 7 crew arrived as well with FF/Medic Bart Wagner and FF/EMT Thomas Cocco.
A male patient with minor injuries from the moped requested transportation to the hospital. The minivan occupants signed a waiver and refused medical treatment. As the Engine and Medic crews were loading the moped patient and preparing for transport in the ambulance, Lt. Morse stated, "it sounded like an explosion". They looked outside and found that a truck had crashed into the back of Engine 7.
The lieutenant immediately summoned additional help including another set of extrication tools. The patient in the Chevy 1500 truck was unresponsive and trapped inside the vehicle. Engine 7's crew was able to reach some of their equipment inside the mangled fire engine and proceeded to "pop" the passenger side door. A few moments later, Lt. Morse cancelled the additional extrication tools and requested a Battalion Chief. Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue Medic 62 arrived to transport the patient from the vehicle. Both the patient from the moped and the patient from the Chevy 1500 were transported to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. The patient that rear-ended Engine 7 was in stable condition later that evening.
"This all goes back to proper apparatus placement", Acting Battalion Chief John McGarrahan said. "Had the crew not properly placed the Engine, we would have been in serious trouble."
Engine 7 blocked 2 lanes of the 3 lane highway approximately 75
