Live5News.com | Charleston, SC | News, Weather, SportsCrews rescue man trapped inside pick-up truck

A man is in critical condition after an accident left him trapped inside a pick-up truck on Green Pond Highway in Colleton County.

According to Colleton County Fire and Rescue officials, the single vehicle accident occurred around 1:40 p.m. Monday. The 911 caller reported the vehicle was on its side with one person trapped inside who was barely breathing.

Emergency crews arrived a short time later and found the man entrapped in the small pickup truck. The vehicle was traveling north when it left the roadway on a straight section of road, entered a deep ditch and struck several trees. A small oak tree crushed the driver's side.

The victim was wearing a seat belt and the air bags did deploy. The roof pinned the man in the driver's seat, pressing on his upper torso and head, compromising his airway. Firefighters and paramedics found the man unconscious with head injuries.

Crews forced open the passenger door and used hydraulic cutters to remove the roof, passenger seat and other sections of the truck to remove the man safely.

A medical helicopter flew the victim to the trauma center at MUSC.

Traffic on Green Pond Highway was blocked for two hours. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

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