Firefighters injured in water tanker crash | News

CONWAY, SC (WECT/WMBF) – Two people were injured in a crash involving a water tanker from Flair Bluff on Saturday.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation reported that an accident on Highway 501 southbound at Gardner Lacy Road occurred at 5:59 p.m. and closed all lanes to traffic.

Traffic cameras provided by the SC DOT show that at least one lane reopened to traffic just before 7 p.m.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol's website says they responded to the accident around 5:49 p.m., but did not provide any further details.

Lance Corporal Judd Jones with the South Carolina Highway Patrol says a tire blew out of the tanker truck, causing it to veer left at first, then pull back to the right. As a result, the truck flipped into a ditch on Highway 501.

According to highway patrol officials, driver Jeremy Mears, 37, and passenger Ashley Wilson, 22, were both wearing their seatbelts, but suffered serious injuries.

"It flipped three times. Flipped in the air
landed on it's top. Flipped off its front end and then flipped again," explained Wilson.

Mears was trapped in his vehicle, and responders had to extricate him from the truck.

"The windshield on the driver's side was on top of Jeremy," said Wilson.

Mears was taken to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. Firefighters said he had a severe cut to his shoulder and had neck injuries.

Wilson was not trapped, but was taken to the same hospital for cuts on the head.

The water tanker was totaled, but insurance will cover the cost of the damage.

Anyone wishing to send donations to Jeremy Meares or Ashley Wilson can be sent to the Fair Bluff Fire Station:

Injured Firefighters
653 Railroad Street
Fair Bluff, NC 28439

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