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Another Stolen Ambulance

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Party Doll's Weekend Comes to Quick Conclusion

ANOTHER RURAL/METRO AMBULANCE was stolen Sunday morning in the Buffalo suburb of Amherst, New York.  It all began around 6:30 am when a policeman brought Heather Sullivan, 37 and drunk, into the emergency room of the ECMC hospital.  Once she was left unattended, she dashed out the ER entrance where she found the ambulance, also unattended and with  the keys in the ignition.  WGRZ-TV continues the tale:

She started heading east down Kensington Ave. with police in pursuit. Once she reached the first traffic circle, she lost control of the ambulance and went straight through the circle and continued towards the Walgreens. She slammed into a brick wall surrounding the parking lot, slowing her down before the ambulance came to a rest.

WIVB-TV

"Thank God she missed the building though. The brick wall stopped her, otherwise, she would have been definitely into the building," said Amherst Police Senior Investigator Scott Lawida.

The ambulance was heavily damaged due to the impact of the brick wall.

The woman has been arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, grand larceny, criminal possession of a stolen vehicle and other charges.

A Rural/Metro spokesman says that the ambulance will probably be a total loss with damages estimated at $80,000 to $100,000.  The police said that she was driving at an extremely high rate of speed.

WGRZ-TV filed this video report:

 

The Buffalo News has the STORY.
WIVB-TV has MORE.

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Posted by on May 21, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, crime, EMS Topics, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

Ambulance Crash in North Carolina

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At An Intersection …. Again

A DAVIDSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, AMBULANCE was involved in a collision Monday morning while transporting a patient to the hospital.  The ambulance was destined for a hospital in Winston-Salem and had its lights and siren on as it approached the intersection shortly after 8:20 am.

The Dispatch reports:

Jeff Smith, director of Davidson County Emergency Services, said Medic 20 was traveling north on N.C. 109 with lights and siren on en route to Forsyth Medical Center when it approached the intersection. He said it appeared the driver of the ambulance, whose name was not released, did not see a Land Rover that was trying to cross N.C. 109 to get on Old Greensboro Road because of a line of cars leaving West Lexington Avenue Extension that were attempting to turn left onto N.C. 109 South.

Smith said the ambulance was hit in the back quarter at the rear wheels. The ambulance spun around and struck the guardrail on N.C. 109.  "It was actually against the guardrail. They had to pull it up to get the patient out," he said.

The patient did not receive any injuries from the crash and was taken on to the hospital by another unit.  The medic in the back was taken to be checked, but does not appear to have any serious injuries.  The two drivers were uninjured as well as two children that were in the car.

The ambulance, a 2010 Chevrolet had "significant" damage and the Land Rover was totaled.  A state trooper said that the driver of the Land Rover will be charged with failure to yield to emergency traffic.

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Posted by on May 14, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, EMS Topics, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances • Tagged: ,

Saturday Car-Toon: Undercover UK Paramedic

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From the "Police Interceptor" television series

A creepy encounter

Police Interceptors is a British TV documentary series that profiles the work of a police ANPR Intercept Team (now known as the Territorial Support Team) in Essex, United Kingdom and in series 4 profiles the work of South Yorkshire Police's Road Crime Unit and Derbyshire Police's Road Policing Unit.

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

 

Posted by on May 12, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, Car-Toon, EMS Topics, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

Paramedics Injured by Red-Light Runner

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Both Medics Transported

TWO WICHITA, KANSAS, FIRE DEPARTMENT PARAMEDICS were injured, one of them seriously, Monday morning when a car ran a red light and crashed into their ambulance.

KWCH-TV

The collision occurred just before 4 am this morning as the ambulance was returning to its station following a routine call.  As they were traveling through an intersection, a car on the cross street blew through the red light and smashed into the side of the ambulance, knocking it onto its side.  Witnesses say that the car was traveling at a high rate of speed.  It ended up against a building nearby, but there was little damage to the structure.

KWCH-TV

Both paramedics and the driver of the car were injured and taken to the hospital.  Early reports say that one of the medics is in serious condition.

Police are still investigating and have yet to determine if speed and/or alcohol and factors in the wreck.

KWCH-TV has a video report and more photos HERE.
The Wichita Eagle has more details HERE.

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Posted by on May 7, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, EMS Topics, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances • Tagged: , ,

Ambulance Driver Charged in Fatal Crash

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Retired Firefighter Killed

THE DRIVER OF A CAMPBELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA, AMBULANCE was charged today (Friday) with reckless driving following a crash in Lynchburg Thursday afternoon.

WSET-TV

The crash occurred at a controlled intersection when the ambulance drove through a red light and collided with a pickup truck, killing the truck's driver, Dean Anders, 69, a retired Lynchburg firefighter who died on the scene.  The pickup had already entered the intersection when the ambulance came through and struck the truck on the passenger side causing it to flip over.

The Lynchburg News and Advance reports:

A witness at the scene said she was on Campbell Avenue heading into the city, when the ambulance passed her.

Roseann Dickerson, of Lynchburg, said she saw the ambulance slow approaching the light, but continued through the intersection where it hit the pickup. At one point, the ambulance was sitting partially on top of the truck, she said.

Capt. Ryan Zuidema, of the Lynchburg Police Department, said the ambulance was transporting a patient to Lynchburg General Hospital.

That patient, a family member, Kidd and another Campbell County emergency worker staffing the ambulance were taken to Lynchburg General Hospital. None are believed to have life-threatening injuries.

WSET-TV reports in this video that Dean Anders was not wearing a seat belt:

 

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Posted by on May 4, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, EMS Topics, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

Ambulance Broadsided by Tow Truck in Maryland

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At An Intersection ….

A PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MARYLAND, Fire Department ambulance was hit broadside Sunday evening while it was making a turn at an intersection.  The ambulance was transporting a patient with lights and siren activated and was making a left turn when a tow truck approaching from the opposite direction struck the ambulance, knocking it into a third vehicle before it careened into a drainage ditch.  The accident happened around 5 pm.

WTTG-TV

The two medics and the patient were all transported and treated for minor injuries along with the driver of the third vehicle.  The tow-truck driver was uninjured but police say he is facing several charges for his action.

Fire Rescue Department spokesman Mark Brady said that there is about $25,000 damage to the older ambulance which may be a total loss.

WTTG-TV Ch. 5 filed this video report from the scene:

 

Four people hurt after ambulance hit by truck in Clinton, MD: MyFoxDC.com

WJLA-TV Ch. 7 has the details HERE.

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Posted by on May 1, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

Ambulance Driver Holding Partner “Against His Will” Chased Down By Police

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Caught by GPS

A NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, AMBULANCE DRIVER WAS CHASED down by Philadelphia police Tuesday morning and arrested after the NovoCare Ambulance firm advised them that their unit was being operated by a rogue driver.

KYW-TV

Several police agencies began getting phone calls from the attendent in the ambulance complaining that he was being held "against his will" while the driver was meandering around two counties instead of reporting to a hospital for an appointed transfer.  The police called the ambulance company who tracked the unit via its GPS signal and guided to police to the location where it was stopped after a brief chase and the driver taken into custody.

KYW-TV filed this video report with more details from the scene of capture this morning:

 

Charges are pending, but no action against the driver has been taken yet.

Update, 1:30 pm:
It is now being reported that when the man began wandering and refused to report to the hospital for his assignment, he was told to return to the barn and then he refused.  NBC Ch. 10 continues:

The chase started near Germantown and Stenton Avenue after police officers saw the ambulance parked in a "suspicious" spot. Police say they called the manager of NovoCare to report what they saw. The manager says he called the driver, who lied about where he was at the time, police said. The manager told police the ambulance has a GPS tracker so he knew the driver wasn't where he was supposed to be.

Police say the manager told the employee he was fired and to bring the ambulance back, but the driver made threats and drove by the agency without dropping off the other employee inside. He also told them he was taking the van (sic) home, police said.

That's when the NovoCare employee in the passenger seat called police and told them the driver wouldn't let him out of the ambulance, according to officers on the scene.

The police started their pursuit of the ambulance and the chase lasted less than an hour. When it ended near 2nd and Cheltenham, there were about 10 police cars surrounding the ambulance.

He is being held by the State Police.

Final drive for the ex-employee.  (NBC10)

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Posted by on April 24, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, EMS Topics, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Videos • Tagged:

Ambulance vs. Mini-Bus in Indy

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Heavy Damage …. Light Injuries

AN INDIANAPOLIS EMS AMBULANCE created a lot of damage Wednesday morning when it crashed through and brought down three electric poles. 

WRTV photo

The ambulance was responding to a medical emergency shortly after 9 am when, for an as-yet unknown reason, it went over the curb and raked the three utililty poles along the distance of a half-block.  Somewhere along the course of the mishap the ambulance also struck the front end of an IndyGo mini-bus.

WRTV

The only injuries were to the bus driver and the only passenger that was on the bus.  They were transported with minor injuries.  According to the city authorities, the amount of damage is listed as "high."

Indianapolis Star

The Indianapolis Star has more photos and the STORY.

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Posted by on April 18, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, EMS Topics, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances • Tagged: ,

Fatal Ambulance Crash in Texas

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Collision At An Intersection (again)

AN ARCHER COUNTY, TEXAS, AMBULANCE was involved in a collision Monday afternoon in Wichita Falls that left the medical patient dead and four other people with minor injuries.

Times Record News image

The ambulance had picked up a 58-yr.-old man who had been found in a field in Archer City suffering from a swarm of bee stings.  It is not yet known how long he had been there when the medics began transporting him to United Regional Hospital in Wichita Falls.  While entering an intersection, the ambulance was struck in the side by an automobile and the impact knocked the ambulance on its side.

The Times Record News filed this raw video from the scene:

 

The two medics and the two passengers in the car were all transported for minor injuries.  It won't be known until an autopsy is held whether the patient died as a result of the crash or from his bee stings.

The Wichita Falls Times Record News has the STORY.

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Posted by on April 17, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, EMS Topics, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Videos • Tagged: , ,

Ambulance Nailed by Stop-Sign Runner

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Indianapolis Incident

A DECATUR TOWNSHIP (Indiana) FIRE DEPARTMENT AMBULANCE was T-boned by a stop-sign runner Thursday morning and careened into an outbuilding next to a church.

Indianapolis Star

The ambulance was responding to an emergency in Indianapolis around 8:30 am and as it entered an intersection, a van traveling on the cross street crashed into the side of the ambulance.  The force of the collision caused the ambulance to go off the road and crash through the side of the metal building that is used as a garage by the church.

WTHR-TV reports:

Heather Temple, 36, was driving the van, a Dodge Caravan. She said she did not see the stop sign or hear the ambulance's siren. She was taken to the hospital in good condition. Her vehicle had front end damage and spun around before hitting a fence.

Mike Davis, 37, was driving the ambulance, with Brad Davis, 31, in the officer's seat. Both were wearing seat belts. They were able to climb out of the back of the ambulance. They were taken to the hospital to be checked out. Both are in good condition. Both firefighters have been with the department since 2005.

Nobody was in the garage at the time and that was the only propery damage to the church.

Google Street View Illustrates the Stop Sign and Building That Was Struck

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Posted by on April 12, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, EMS Topics, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances • Tagged: ,

4 Injured in Ambulance vs. Pickup Crash

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At a Controlled Intersection

FOUR PEOPLE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL including the two medics when a Louisville (Kentucky) Metro EMS ambulance collided with a pickup truck Thursday evening.  The ambulance was responding to a medical emergency around 5 pm when it approached an intersection facing a red light.  Witnesses say that the ambulance stopped at the light and then started to make a right-hand turn when the pickup truck slammed into it.

WAVE-TV

The truck careened into a light pole and rolled over.  The driver and passenger in the pickup were both injured also, but the driver was entrapped and had to be extricated by the FD.

WAVE-TV tells us:  For several witnesses on the scene, one thing stands out about the truck driver right before the crash. "He was going very, very fast," said one.  The station also posted this video report:

 

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Posted by on April 6, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, EMS Topics, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Videos • Tagged: ,

Ambulance vs. Police Pickup – Ambulance Wins

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At An Intersection …. Again

NEARBY RESIDENTS IN A JERSEY CITY, New Jersey, neighborhood reported hearing a loud crashing sound, like someone crumpling cans out front Wednesday afternoon just before 5 pm.  What they were hearing was a collision between a Port Authority Police pickup truck and a Jersey City Medical Center ambulance at the intersection of Eighth and Brunswick Streets.

Jersey Journal / Shine

The police vehicle was knocked onto its side but the ambulance had only minor damage.

The Jersey Journal reports:

The driver of the Port Authority police Silverado pickup, a sergeant with the force for 10 years, was alone in the vehicle and complained of head and chest pain and was taken to Jersey City Medical Center for evaluation, officials said.

The two EMTs in the Jersey City Medical Center ambulance were not injured and there were no patients involved, JCMC spokesman Mark Rabson said.

Neither the police nor the EMTs were responding to calls and lights on the vehicles were not activated, officials said.

There is no official report yet on what caused the collision at the uncontrolled intersection.

When the Google Street View-mobile drove through four years ago,
both streets were one-way and 8th Street had the Stop sign.

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Posted by on April 5, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances • Tagged: , , ,

Kollege Kids Kreate Khaos with Sensationalized Story about a 100 mph freshman EMS responder

2 comments

Do I know a few people who need to read this! Too bad they wouldn't recognize the significance of it.

Objectionable Image of EMS Responder

Last week Candice King, a staff writer on the student-run The Ithican, wrote about freshman Joshua Cource's experience as a member of the all-volunteer Newton Volunteer First Aid Squad.

The first paragraph was troublesome for many EMS providers:

Freshman Joshua Couce has violated the speed limit on occasion. Couce might exceed 100 mph, but he is not behind the wheel of a sports car. He is driving an ambulance with an injured patient in the back.

You may want to stop and read the entire article: Voluntary response: College freshman focuses effort on providing emergency relief

(cue waiting music) Welcome back. Yeah, it got worse. 

More than 50 posted responses to the article, including this one, from Ben Abo (Pittsburgh) wondering about the level of certification for Mr. Cource:

My first shift in EMS was the day after I turned 16 in South Jersey. I, too, loved it. In fact, I've since had a great career as a paramedic, then physician and done a lot of EMS lecturing, mentoring, and research. I'm a huge supporter of collegiate EMS (in fact, I happily spend my Bday weekend every year to lecture at and take part in the National Collegiate EMS Foundation).

Again, there are a number of benefits even beyond patient care of having a squad on campus. But IF the ambulance can even get that fast, it shouldn't. There isn't a need. Furthermore, 40 hour course is for first responders… 110-120 for EMT basic, and a whole lot more for paramedic. Sooooo… which is it? @Michael Hayoun: right on. (Please see his posting below). @Josh Couce: Keep on the passion, but always be learning from things.

Accuracy, clarity and tone – the undergraduate challenge

The on-campus undergraduate experience includes testing limits, exploring options and making mistakes in a relatively secure environment. While far less insular than the campus of the 1960's, it still resembles a bubble of " near-adulthood."

This news article will serve as a "life lesson" for both Cource and King.

Just like the premature announcement of the death of Penn State Coach Paterno by student-run Onward State created a national media frenzy and the resignation of Managing Editor Devon Edwards.

Spending the last seven years working with undergraduate students, and their limit-testing learning, have made me less sensitive to the outrage expressed by many others.

Newton Volunteer First Aid Squad response

The Newton First Aid Squad regrets the comments that were made by Member Joshua Couce in the article published at www.theithican.org. The Squad would like to assure the members of the public and fellow emergency services workers that the actions described in the article are not in any way condoned by the Newton First Aid Squad. Mr. Couce had this article published without the knowledge or consent of the Squad and his actions described within the article were unknown to the Officers of this Squad until the publication of this article.

The Newton First Aid Squad does not condone the divulging of personal details of EMS calls to the public in any form nor does it condone the motor vehicle operations described within the article. The Newton First Aid Squad and its volunteer members strive to uphold the highest standards of EMS and these comments and actions are being taken extremely seriously.

Currently Mr. Couce has been suspended from the squad until a full investigation has been completed and any necessary disciplinary actions have been concluded. We regret that such statements were made as it negatively reflects on all aspects of EMS including both paid and volunteer EMS professionals and the Newton First Aid Squad who has proudly served the citzens of the Town of Newton since 1957.  FaceBook link HERE

The Scott Kier manifesto

A former New Jersey EMT, Scott "medicsbk.com" Kier posted a response on his blog that was promoted by The Happy Medic.

Bad Publicity and Saving Face.

Scott makes three annotated points:

  1. The Newton First Aid and Rescue Squad – First of all, a full admission of what knowledge of the article prior to its publishing needs to be explored and put into public record.
  2. Joshua Couce – Joshua needs to post an apology to all that were affected by this article. (Including a personal apology to Scott). [see Scott's comment]
  3. The New Jersey State First Aid Council, Maybe it is time to step in and offer them some guidance in how to handle the situation at hand.

<<<<<<< >>

Wow, Scott, this really got you angry. From my "keyboard commander" spot, it looks like using a 20 pound sledgehammer to swat a fly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organizational "Life-Lessons"

Scott makes some excellent points once you get past the anger.

The volunteer organization will need help in both responding to this crisis and in improving their public image. There may be issues with some of the incident pictures (license plates and patient faces) on their FaceBook page.

The state organization has an opportunity to move beyond clinical training. While NJSFAC provides college scholarships and reduced tuition, maybe some focused training on running a volunteer first aid squad in the 21st century would be helpful.

While the article did not provide identification of any patients, the description of a unique fatal event in a small town is far from anonymous.

Supervision and mentoring of younger members should continue until they are real adults, around 25 years old. Cource joined the first aid squad when he was 16. He is an 18 year old Senior Emergency Technician.

According to the article, Mr. Course is making a 400 mile round-trip from college to provide 12 hours of responder coverage to his hometown on Sundays. That's dedication!

Not sure that we need "the nuclear option" to resolve this issue.

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on March 27, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, News, Training, Training & Development, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances • Tagged: , , , ,

Fire Engine vs. Ambulance in Baltimore

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Met At The Intersection

A BALTIMORE CITY, MARYLAND, FIRE ENGINE collided with a department ambulance while both were responding to emergency calls Friday night. 

WBFF-TV

The accident occurred just before 8 pm at an intersection on W. North Ave.  The two medics were injured, one only slightly but the other was transported to the shock trauma center.  There were no injuries among the firefighters and the two units had fairly minor crash damages.  It was not clear whether they were responding to the same call or not with conflicting reports.

WMAR-TV has the STORY.

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Posted by on March 24, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, apparatus, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus • Tagged: , ,

Ambulance Rear-Ends Snow Plow, Totalled

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Sudden White-Out Cancels Visibility
(Yes, They're Still Plowing Up There)

A BLOWING-SNOW STORM SWEPT across the Trans-Canada Highway in Alberta near Calgary Thursday.  The blinding driving conditions led to at least 20 accidents, according to the RCMP and one of them involved a Nakoda Nation EMS ambulance that rear-ended a snow plow.  "The driver of the ambulance was below the speed limit, but proceeding with lights and sirens, and did not see the snowplow," Marcel DuBois, director of Nakoda emergency services told the Calgary Herald.

Calgary Herald

The Herald continues:

While it was originally feared to be a life-threatening crash, their conditions were later upgraded.

A female paramedic who was driving, a male paramedic tending to a patient and the male patient who was being transported in the ambulance were injured but will survive the crash that seriously damaged the ambulance. "They’re all very lucky," said DuBois.

The ambulance was on a medical trip to the Foothills Hospital at the time of the crash, and after the collision they were taken in another ambulance to the same hospital.

The ambulance was a total loss representing about $200,000 in damage, according to the Nakoda representative.

Calgary Sun

The snow plow had some rear end damage, but the driver was not injured.

The Calgary Sun has more information plus a good video report HERE.

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Posted by on March 23, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, EMS Topics, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances • Tagged: ,

Ambulance Crashes, Flips in Downtown Philly

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Struck by Car While Responding

A PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, FIRE DEPARTMENT ambulance was involved in a collision at an intersection around 7 am this morning (Friday) that caused the ambulance to roll onto its side.

The ambulance was responding to an emergency call with two medics on board when an auto crashed into its side.  The Philadelphia Inquirer has the early report:

The ambulance, Medic Unit 50, was northbound on Broad Street on an emergency run when it was hit by a silver Chrysler sedan that was westbound on Callowhill Street about 7 a.m.

The ambulance flipped onto the driver's side of the vehicle and the sedan, its front end smashed in, ended up facing toward the northeast corner of Broad and Callowhill.

There was no one except the medics in the ambulance. Batallion Chief Eric Fleming said the injuries to the medics were not life threatening.

The Inquirer also posted this video from the scene that begins just seconds after the crash as bystanders flock in to help the medics while the motor is still running and the siren sounding:

 

The investigation is just beginning and there are no disclosures yet about right-of-way issues or cause.

The Inquirer has a photo gallery HERE.

Hat tip:  Carmine S.

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Posted by on March 23, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, EMS Topics, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Videos • Tagged: ,

“New” Chevrolet will be 2013 NASCAR racer

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If Bob Lutz had his way …

The Australian-built Holden Commodore would have been the source for a V-8 powered rear wheel drive high performance sedan for Chevrolet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011 Caprice PPV 93C "Detective" vehicles – law enforcement customers ONLY!

This model is found in many markets: a Saudi Arabian Caprice, a Buick Park Avenue in China and the Lumina in Asia. With an EPA city rating of 15 miles-per-gallon for the V-8, Lutz said that he could not make a business case for a Caprice in the US.

Commodores were available in United States as a 2008 Pontiac G8. A supercharged $44,000 GXP model was a motorhead's hope for a 21st century version of the 1994 – 1996 "bathtub" Caprice SS that had a Corvette motor. Poor G8 sales, elimination of the Pontiac brand and General Motors bankruptcy ended that fantasy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodores are the platform for the 2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicles (PPV) that have started showing up in Los Angeles and other departments.

NASCAR 2013 racers to look more like "production" vehicles

The Sprint Cup racers next year will look more like production vehicles.

Ford Fusion:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greg Biffle, right, climbs out of the 2013 Ford Fusion NASCAR Sprint Cup series race car into a news conference during the NASCAR Media Tour in Concord, N.C., Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) (AP)

Dodge Charger:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last week Chevrolet said that they are retiring the Impala brand NASCAR racer for a new model that is based on another nameplate. Not Malibu, Cruze or Sonic.

Maybe …

 

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on March 19, 2012 • Filed under: cars, News, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Ambulance vs. Truck in Germany

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Head-On at Speed

AN AMBULANCE IN BISCHOFSHEIM, Germany, was involved in a head-on crash Friday afternoon while it was responding to a call with its lights and siren activated.  As it was moving through traffic it was passing a stopped truck when another truck coming in the opposite direction was hidden from view.  The two vehicles collided without any brakes applied, largely due to the obstructed vision of both drivers.

Wiesbaden112 photo

The doctor and the driver on the ambulance, ages 46 and 36, were injured and transported with non-life threatening injuries.  The driver of the truck was not injured.

HR-Online has the STORY.

Thanks to Christian Lewalter.

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Posted by on March 19, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, EMS Topics, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances

5 Injured in Canadian Ambulance Crash

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Early-Morning Alcohol Trip

A HEAD-ON CRASH INVOLVING AN ambulance and a pickup truck in Gatineau, Quebec, left five people injured, two of them seriously on Wednesday morning.

Radio-Canada photo

CBC Television is reporting:

Police said the small truck collided with the ambulance on Maloney Boulevard Wednesday morning at about 5:30 a.m.

One paramedic was taken to hospital in critical condition with multi-system trauma, while the other had serious but not life-threatening injuries. The ambulance was not carrying a patient or personnel in the back of the vehicle.

The driver of the truck and his two passengers were also taken to hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

The police are reporting that the 29-yr.-old man driving the pickup is suspected of being drunk and was charged with impaired driving causing bodily harm.

The Ottawa Citizen is updating the report:

The paramedic, a passenger in the ambulance, was taken to hospital with several broken bones and head trauma.

"The next 24 hours are critical," said Outaouais paramedic spokesperson Marc Paquette.

The ambulance driver was also injured but has since been released from hospital. The three people in the truck were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

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Posted by on March 14, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, rescue, Rescues, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances

Deadly Ambulance Crash in Ohio

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Driver and Patient Both Killed

Update:  Details of accident released.  Scroll down.

A TRANSPORT AMBULANCE WAS INVOLVED in a deadly collsion Wednesday morning.  The ambulance appears to have been operated by only the driver who was taking a patient who was in a wheelchair from one facility to another.  The accident occurred near Chillicothe, Ohio, around 10 am.

WBNS-TV

Update:  The Chillicothe Gazette has the updated description of how the accident occurred:

According to Sgt. Kari Riebesell of the Ohio Highway Patrol, Carl Dearth, of Frankfort, was headed south in the flatbed truck on Hospital Road when he slowed and stopped to turn left onto Delano Road. (The ambulance) was also headed south on Hospital, and Riebesell said he failed to stop in time, striking the back of Dearth’s truck with a full-frontal impact just before 10 a.m.

The lumber on the back of Dearth’s truck went through the ambulance’s windshield and halfway through the ambulance, causing King and McWhorter to suffer fatal head injuries. Both were pronounced dead at the scene by Ross County Coroner Dr. John Gabis.

WBNS-TV

This is very early reporting and the circumstances of the wreck may be revised this afternoon.  Other than the deaths of two people, nothing has been confirmed yet.  Firegeezer will update the story later today.  The ambulette was transporting the wheelchair patient to a doctor's appointment and was in non-emergency mode.

Chillicothe Gazette

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Posted by on March 14, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, rescue, Rescues, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances • Tagged: , ,

Two Injured in Ambulance Rollover

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Oncoming Swaying Trailer Knocks the Ambulance

TWO EMT'S WERE INJURED FRIDAY NIGHT in Ottawa County, Ohio, when their ambulance rolled onto its side after a collision with a small trailer.  They were returning from a call and there was no patient in the ambulance.

WUPW-TV image

Police say that around 10 pm the driver of an oncoming SUV pulling a homemade trailer had drifted over the center line but pulled back into his lane.  But the trailer fishtailed back into the side of the ambulance with enough impact to cause it to roll over.

One of the EMT's was trapped in the ambulance for about 40 minutes before the FD was able to extricate her.  Both of them had minor injuries and were treated and released.

WUPW-TV posted this video report from the scene:

 

The driver of the other vehicle was cited for driving left of center.

The Toledo Blade has the details HERE.

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Posted by on March 11, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, rescue, Rescues, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Videos • Tagged: , ,

Another Stolen Ambulance

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They Keep Leaving 'em Running

A THIEF WITH BAD INTENTIONS STOLE AN AMBULANCE in San Antonio, Texas, early Friday morning and took it home to strip the contents.

Stripped ambulance as it was found  (KENS-TV)

The Americana Ambulance crew had just unloaded a patient at a nursing home around 3:20 am and when they came back outside they found the ambulance gone.  San Antonio police and University Hospital police immediately began searching for it aided by the GPS coordinates that the ambulance company was getting from the vehicle's transmitter.

A short time later they found the ambulance in an apartment development parking lot and a 37-year-old man standing in front of it.  The ambulance had been almost completely emptied out, so they looked in his apartment and found the stolen equipment and supplies.

Jose Arenas

Jose Arenas was charged with felony vehicle theft and taken to the hoosegow.

KENS-TV Ch. 5 filed this video report:

 

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Posted by on March 9, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, crime, EMS Topics, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

A test of “any publicity is good publicity.” $108K Fisker car dies after 180 miles with Consumer Reports

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May not get a "recommend" from Consumer Reports

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer Reports uses anonymous buyers to purchase the automobiles that they test. They bought a $107,850 Karma from Fisker automotive.

"It is a little disconcerting that you pay that amount of money for a car and it lasts basically 180 miles before going wrong," David Champion, senior director for the magazine's automotive test center, told Reuters. 

read more by Ben Klayman Fisker Karma car dies in Consumer Reports testing

Consumer Reports video tease:

Soon after Consumer Reports bought the Fisker Karma to test, it stopped working.

The luxury plug-in hybrid had to be towed off the track.

Read our blog "Bad Karma: Our Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid breaks down" for more information: http://bit.ly/zvxgV6

Fisker's response:

Yesterday a Fisker owner, Consumer Reports, experienced a service event with the Karma they recently purchased from a local retailer.

As a new company introducing a new technology into the marketplace, customer satisfaction and a quick and thorough response to any issue is our primary focus.

As part of the Fisker VIP Customer Service program, the local Fisker retailer immediately arranged for the car to be picked up and diagnosed by trained service technicians.

Our engineers are in contact with the retailer and are working closely with them to understand the cause and resolve the issue so they can return the car to their customer quickly.

With nearly 500 units retailed to date there are many satisfied customers around the world driving Fisker Karmas every day, without incident.

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on March 9, 2012 • Filed under: cars, News, Technology & Communications, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Carbon Motors … no federal loan crumbles purpose-built police vehicle effort

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Press release from yesterday

Carbon Motors ATVM Loan Caught in DOE Political Crossfire

CONNERSVILLE, IN — Today Carbon Motors Corporation, a homeland security technology company, announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has indicated that it will not proceed with Carbon’s $310 million application for a direct loan under the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) program. The ATVM program was established during the Bush administration and continued under the Obama administration.

“We are outraged by the actions of the DOE and it is clear that this was a political decision in a highly-charged, election year environment. Since Solyndra became politicized last fall, the DOE has failed to make any other loans under the ATVM program, has pulled back one loan that it previously committed and, as of this month, the DOE has pushed aside the three remaining viable loans under active consideration,” said William Santana Li, chairman and chief executive officer, Carbon Motors Corporation.

“Each of these applicants has been caught for several years in a costly and extensive DOE due diligence process. Carbon Motors simply appears to be the last victim of this political gamesmanship. In failing to deploy the tax dollars that Congress allocated for the creation of advanced technology manufacturing jobs in the U.S., the DOE ATVM program represents a glaring failure of the Obama Administration to create jobs that are clearly within its power to create,”

full press release HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have been following Carbon Motors purpose-built police vehicle efforts as part of a larger obsession with law enforcement wheels:

October 05, 2008: Police Cruiser Designed by Cops

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One result of Carbon Motors effort is far more work-specific vehicles from others:

CHEVROLET

October 05, 2009: New Caprice Police Car

Holden (Australian) import for General Motors.

June 03, 2011: LAPD 2011 Chevy Caprice PPV

Almost got a detective-package Caprice!

June 25, 2011: Contract loophole = Street Caprices

 

 

 

 

 

 

FORD

March 13, 2010: Ford 2012 “purpose-built” police cruiser

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last month, Chicago announced that were buying 500 Ford Police Interceptors and utility vehicles.  Ford press release HERE.

DODGE

When Wake County EMS selected the police package, Hemi-powered Dodge Charger from the North Carolina state contract, the important information of the Advanced Practice Paramedics was overshadowed by the vehicle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2012 version of the Dodge Charger Pursuit is getting praise for better sight-lines

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on March 8, 2012 • Filed under: Funding & Staffing, News, Technology & Communications, Urban Commander, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Videos • Tagged: , ,

Ambulance Crash Injures 5

3 comments

Another Red Light Collision

AN AMBULANCE CARRYING AN OCTOGENARIAN to the hospital in North Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) Sunday was involved in a 3-vehicle collision that ended up with five people injured and the ambulance on its side. 

WPVI-TV

None of the injuries were life threatening.  According to police reports, the ambulance had its lights and siren activated when it approached a controlled intersection showing a red light at 9:34 am.  A sedan that had the green light started into the intersection and was struck by the ambulance.

WPVI-TV posted this video report:

 

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Posted by on March 6, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, EMS Topics, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Videos • Tagged: ,