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Denver Ambulance Collision, Rollover

2 comments

A DENVER, COLORADO, AMBULANCE COLLIDED with a truck Tuesday morning and ended up on its side, skidding along the pavement.

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Denver Post / Osler photo

The Denver Health ambulance was responding to an emergency call with two paramedics and an EMT on board.  Its warning lights and siren were all activated when it came upon a traffic backup at an intersection.  The ambulance moved left into the oncoming lane to pass a lumber delivery truck that was in the left-hand turn lane.

As the ambulance was passing, the truck continued its travel and turned left into the path of the ambulance.  The truck driver, who was shaken up, said that she never heard or saw the ambulance.  The three medics were transported and treated for minor injuries.

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Ch. 31 image

The Denver Post has the full STORY.

Posted by on June 18, 2008 • Filed under: ambulances
  • http://www.gaurc.us/ RGoodell

    There seems to be a sudden rash of accidents involving ambulances traveling in on-coming traffic lanes, and this concerns me.

    I have driven ambulances and other emergency vehicles since 1985, from Los Angeles to Maine, and spent my fair share of time on the wrong side of the road but never been involved in an accident. I think it is fair for me to comment from experience on this subject.

    Traffic laws afford special priveliges to emergency vehicles, and rightly so. But it is the full responsibility of the operator to protect themselves, and also every other driver they may come in contact with. Protecting and serving the public extends to the driver-seat as much as it does to the patient compartment.

    Bad things do happen, but is appears most of the recent reports point toward operator error. Poor judgement is unacceptable for any driver, especially that of an emergency vehicle whom we expect to be an example of skill and safety. Yet, so many times I have seen drivers respond for a patient “not feeling well” as if they were primary ALS for an infant not-breathing.

    The problem, in a nutshell, is training; consistent, on-going training… and the experience gained from it.

  • http://www.gaurc.us RGoodell

    There seems to be a sudden rash of accidents involving ambulances traveling in on-coming traffic lanes, and this concerns me.

    I have driven ambulances and other emergency vehicles since 1985, from Los Angeles to Maine, and spent my fair share of time on the wrong side of the road but never been involved in an accident. I think it is fair for me to comment from experience on this subject.

    Traffic laws afford special priveliges to emergency vehicles, and rightly so. But it is the full responsibility of the operator to protect themselves, and also every other driver they may come in contact with. Protecting and serving the public extends to the driver-seat as much as it does to the patient compartment.

    Bad things do happen, but is appears most of the recent reports point toward operator error. Poor judgement is unacceptable for any driver, especially that of an emergency vehicle whom we expect to be an example of skill and safety. Yet, so many times I have seen drivers respond for a patient “not feeling well” as if they were primary ALS for an infant not-breathing.

    The problem, in a nutshell, is training; consistent, on-going training… and the experience gained from it.