Two adults and eight children were ejected from an SUV during a rollover crash on I-16, according to the Savannah Morning News . At approximately 2:30 p.m. Sunday, an unidentified male driver was traveling westbound in a red GMC Yukon near the 142 mile marker on interstate 16 when the back right tire blew, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Witnesses say the SUV rolled over four times, ejecting all 10 passengers in the car before coming to a stop.
A resident of Brunswick, Preston Westmoreland, who was driving about 200 yards behind the SUV when the rollover crash took place, stated that “the back right tire of the car blew out, and the whole backend went out to the side. It looked like they tried to correct, but the car ended up flipping. They were all thrown out of the vehicle.”
2 adults, 8 children ejected when SUV crashes in Bryan County: https://t.co/41LPT0NSpx pic.twitter.com/qFHPd9Z2OP
— SavannahNow (@SavannahNow) June 15, 2016
Westmoreland told reporters that when he pulled his vehicle over to help the car crash victims, he tragically encountered a young girl – who had been ejected from the vehicle – with a bone protruding from her leg. He added that he did all that he could to keep her calm and distracted her from her wound until emergency services arrived at the scene.
“I’ve seen accidents before where not many people pulled over, but so many people stopped for this one. I was pleasantly surprised at the number of people who got out to help,” he said.
Other witnesses, who pulled over to help the victims, stated that they were shocked after witnessing the horrifying I-16 crash. Nicole Mathews left a comment via social media, which stated, “This has bothered my husband and I all day. We swerved to keep the vehicle from hitting us and it flipped from opposite sides of interstate and we couldn’t stop. So glad all are taken care of and my husband saw the bodies flying so we prayed while driving.”
I-16 WB in Bryan County remains CLOSED b/c of bad crash. 8 children involved-some flown out. Take 80 or 280. #wtoc pic.twitter.com/UCzq7SCRvs
— WTOC Jamie Ertle (@wtocjamie) June 12, 2016
Another witness, Michael Worsham, who also left a comment via social media, stated that he was one of the first people on the scene to help the victims of the I-16 crash. He said, “After a quick assessment, I had to get the father out of the car, which he had jammed his foot in the steering wheel. One kid was wedged in the back seat, relatively unhurt. The mother was locked in the front seat and took me and another passerby to pry the door open. I had the passerby check her while I went to assess the kids.”
“So much blood, concussions, and complex fractures. I’m just glad a passing combat medic, pediatrician, and several others were able to assist before EMS, fire / rescue and police were able to get there in time.”
“I’m just counting my blessings they all survive,” Worsham added.
When emergency services arrived at the scene, they had to “close both westbound interstate lanes” while transporting two victims, who were in critical condition, to Memorial University Medical Center via helicopter.
Several children injured in I-16 crash https://t.co/4i0pag0gkj pic.twitter.com/G7UDFJ1Q8x
— FOX 8 New Orleans (@FOX8NOLA) June 12, 2016
The other eight car crash victims were transported to the same hospital by ambulance, according to WSAV .
However, police officials have yet to release the names of the passengers involved in the I-16 car crash, but several relatives have publicly thanked the people who pulled over to help the victims before paramedics arrived.
Although there hasn’t been any fatalities reported, the family of the car crash victims reported that two are in critical condition. Maurice Henderson, who is believed to be a relative of the victims, stated that they are making improvements. One of the I-16 crash victims is scheduled to have surgery Wednesday, while two others – who sustained broken necks and bones – will undergo surgery on Thursday.
Henderson stated that he wants to thank those who helped the victims. “Thanks so much may God bless you all,” he said.
[Image via Getty Images / Ross Land]
