Never Saw an ambulance split open like this

[Boss429]

CIVILIAN CAR CRASHES INTO PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY (MARYLAND) FIRE-EMS AMBULANCE - 3 CIVILIANS KILLED, 2 MEMBERS INJURED

Thursday, September 16, 2010 Just after midnight, early this morning in Prince Georges County (Maryland), 3 civilians were killed and 2 Prince George's FF/Medics on an ambulance were sent to a trauma center for evaluation when the ambulance was struck by a speeding civilians vehicle, splitting it wide open.


Ambulance 826 had just departed their quarters and were traveling west on Marlboro Pike responding to an overdose call. Initial reports indicate that a GMC Suburban SUV was traveling east-bound in the west-bound lanes at an extremely high rate of speed. The ambulance, with emergency lights on and siren sounding, had to swerve to avoid a head-up collision. The SUV side-swiped the ambulance and then hit a brick wall and utility pole before coming to rest on it's roof about 120 feet from where it first struck the ambulance.


The 3 occupants of the SUV, adult males, were pronounced dead on the scene. 2 Firefighter/Medics were transported to DC's MedStar Trauma Center for evaluation, but did not appear to have suffered any injuries. The ambulance sustained major damage from the crash in which the entire right side of the patient compartment was torn off.


Additionally, more details can be found HERE: http://pgfdpio.blogspot.com/

Link to picture: http://www.firefighterclosecalls.com/ne ... sid/116868

 

[CrownVic97]

Here's the ambulance:


[Broken External Image]:http://www.firecompanies.com/MFC/public/news_images/10066/116868/267144_orig.jpg


The guys in the suv must have been under the influence of something pretty heavy and going over 100 to split the ambulance open just from a side-swipe. That's crazy. Thank God the EMTs are alive after a wreck of that caliber.

 

[unlisted]

Although, I have to say I am not surprised- knowing how those are put together. A speeding SUV side swiping the corner of the box could easily shear a side wall clean off.. More so when you consider the ambulance was already moving in the opposite direction.


I am curious what the speeds of both vehicles were when they made contact..

 

[mcpd2025]

Thankfully the cab of the unit was untouched and they are ok.


3 people die in an SUV racing around at that hour, driving on the wrong side of the road, hitting an ambulance with lights and sirens activated.... I'll try not to lose too much sleep tonight.

 

[pondfly]

If you look it split right along the seam, the weakest part. Had that truck been over a couple inches the end results would have been much worse.

 

[grfd711]

Glad the EMS company I work part time for doesn't use ALF ambos. One can see the eblem in the third pic.

 

[JohnMarcson]

Glad the EMS company I work part time for doesn't use ALF ambos. One can see the eblem in the third pic.

I doubt the ambulance would look much different no matter what brand it was. high speed suv into the side.....

 

[grfd711]

Out of a fleet of 38 ALS units that are type threes, the company I work for has had it's fair share of wrecks. Not as many major ones, but nothing like what I've seen happen to some other boxes that split apart when wrecked. They use Excellance and the boxes have always held up, as they're not sewn, glued or taped together. Good enough they offer a 25 year warranty, as seen here.

 

[Luismariadarlene]

Good thing the medics are 10-4

 

[Chasselber1]

The crew on A-826 were transported to MedSTAR trauma for eval and were released with no major injuries, just real sore. The unit was responding to a "bravo sick person" call. The ambo was goin approx 30 mph and when the driver saw the SUV he swerved and braked down to approx 10 mph at impact. I was at the firehouse and listened to the events unfold. The county "leased" 70 of those units from a company that subsquently went out of buisness and we were stuck with them. There are times when the county is out of ambo's completely... Another tid-bit of historical info is that 25 years ago T-26 was involved in an accident at the same location that also killed 3 civilians.

 

[ISU_Cyclone]

Why were 3 civilians in the ambulance responding to a call? It didn't specify...

 

[unlisted]

Why were 3 civilians in the ambulance responding to a call? It didn't specify...

They were not- they were the people in the SUV that hit the ambulance..

 

[RMBROWN]

holy shit batman... I've never in my 6 yrs seen anything like that before..Glad the ff/medics will be ok..I have no remorse for the 3 drunk assholes that got killed because they decided to drive reckless and drive the wrong way at a high rate of speed

 

[rangerbob]

You guys who've never seen this must have missed the Delaware Ambo that dropped the duals off the road and flipped. Struck a tree, ripped open the box, and I believe killed the attendant and maybe the PT.

 

[Chasselber1]

Rangerbob, that happened in June of 2008...

 

[Doug]

The crew on A-826 were transported to MedSTAR trauma for eval and were released with no major injuries, just real sore. The unit was responding to a "bravo sick person" call. The ambo was goin approx 30 mph and when the driver saw the SUV he swerved and braked down to approx 10 mph at impact. I was at the firehouse and listened to the events unfold. The county "leased" 70 of those units from a company that subsquently went out of buisness and we were stuck with them. There are times when the county is out of ambo's completely... Another tid-bit of historical info is that 25 years ago T-26 was involved in an accident at the same location that also killed 3 civilians.

C'mon, Chad, don't you love PGFD's MedicMasters?


Like I said on TWD, I would love to see the results of the drug tests done as a part of the autopsy.

 

[DaveCN5]

Thaey must have just barely made contact with the front of the box, because I can't see any deformation of the front passenger corner of the box. That is scary how poorly that box held up in a side swipe though. Can you imagine what would have happened to the box if it had been a rollover? I think it's time for the manufacturer to reconsider the strength integrity of their boxes.

 

[charlie82]

Reminds me of this, killed one FF:

 

[Chasselber1]

Doug thats why we, much like your company have our own ambo! Thank god we have never had a unit roll over and after seeing the unit in person I hope we never do. That thing was DESTROYED!!! Also of note was that the H bottle for the unit was located in the officer side rear compartment and the spare portables were in a rack in the first compartment on the officers side. I never heard what happened to them. The stair chair that is seen in some of the photos is stored next to the H bottle.

 

[grfd711]

:shock: