Ambulance Carrying 88-Year-Old Man Overturns In Millcreek

The crash, which involved a Gold Cross ambulance and an SUV, happened at 4500 S. 1300 East at approximately 9:15 a.m., according to Lt. Lex Bell of Unified Police Department. Photo: Gephardt Daily

MILLCREEK, Utah, June 20, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — An ambulance carrying an 88-year-old man overturned in Millcreek Monday morning.

The crash, which involved a Gold Cross ambulance and an SUV, happened at about 9:15 a.m. at 4500 South and 1300 East, according to Lt. Lex Bell of Unified Police Department.

“The Gold Cross ambulance was northbound, on 1300 East, just driving at normal speed with traffic, did not have lights on, did not have its siren on,” Bell said.

“The SUV that was involved was westbound on 4500 South, and from a couple of independent witnesses we believe it ran the red light westbound, and hit the back of the Gold Cross ambulance, causing it to fishtail, and it slowly rolled onto its side.

“According to the driver he just said it was a really slow roll, he thought maybe it would correct itself, but it didn’t and it tipped over, and landed on its side.”

The 88-year-old male in the back of the ambulance was being transported to St. Marks Hospital. A 39-year-old medic was driving and a 40-year-old medic was in the back of the ambulance with the patient.

Bell said the 88-year-old male stayed in the stretcher and the stretcher stayed connected to the floor of the ambulance, which saved him from more injuries. He was taken to the hospital where he was already headed, but police said they wanted to make sure he didn’t get any additional injuries from where he was strapped into the stretcher.

He added the medic who was in the back of the ambulance had an obvious cut on his head, and some other bumps and bruises, and is in fair condition. He was also sent to St. Marks to get checked. The ambulance driver was unhurt.

The SUV was driven by a 39-year-old female, and Bell said she sustained some slight injuries from the airbag deployment but refused medical treatment.

She had two boys, ages 4 and 6, in the SUV. They were restrained properly, and neither was injured.

Family members arrived on scene and elected to take the two boys to the doctor to be checked out but they appear to be in good condition.

A Collision Analysis and Reconstruction (CAR) Unit was called out to reconstruct the scene because of concern over the man’s age.

“The CAR unit is going to try and put together what exactly happened as well as what speeds were involved, something that I’m sure Gold Cross ambulance and manufacturers of that ambulance are going to be curious to know, what the speeds were and how it rolled and why,” Bell said.

Traffic will be stopped north, south and westbound on 1300 East, until at least 1 p.m., and drivers are being encouraged to avoid the area.

Police are looking into whether distracted driving may have played a factor in the crash, and why the SUV ran the red light. It is possible the driver will be cited, but exactly what for is unknown at this time.

 

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