An EMT driving an ambulance was killed while a paramedic and the driver of the other vehicle received injuries following a traffic collision Friday afternoon in Mesa.
As per the initial information, the fatal two-vehicle accident took place on State Route 87 near McDowell Road. The preliminary reports showed that the ambulance was driving with emergency lights on, heading to a call involving a woman having complications with her pregnancy. The ambulance tried to make a turn onto SR-87 when it was struck by the tractor-trailer.
The ambulance driver, an EMT with the Salt River Fire Department, was declared dead at the scene by the officials. A paramedic from the ambulance was rushed to the hospital with critical injuries, SRFD saying they needed surgery. The driver of the tractor-trailer was also taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
By statute, people are required to yield the right of way to the emergency vehicle; however the driver of that emergency vehicle still has to operate with due diligence and care. A procession took place Friday night to transport the EMT that was killed. SR-87 was blocked from Gilbert and McDowell Roads for about eight hours while crews worked at the scene. No other details are available.
The crash remains under investigation.
April 9, 2022
Source: ABC 15 News
