Rehoboth Beach – The Delaware State Police are investigating a crash that involved a Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company Ambulance. Troopers were called to the two vehicle crash at 6:23 pm on Coastal Highway (SR1) at John J Williams Highway (SR24).
Investigators learned that a 2004 Ford Ambulance, operated by Teri Overstreet, 22 of Harbeson, was traveling northbound on Coastal Hwy. The ambulance approached the intersection of SR 24 and was preparing to turn left to go westbound. The ambulance slowed down due to a red left- turn traffic signal and waited for southbound traffic to stop.
The ambulance, which had its emergency equipment activated, observed traffic stopped and began crossing the southbound lanes. A 2006 Chevy Impala, operated by Tonya Moore, 41 of Milton, was traveling southbound on Coastal Hwy in the right lane. She failed to yield to the ambulance and proceeded into the intersection. As a result the ambulance and Chevy collided.
Both operators and a passenger from the ambulance, Steven Humphreys, 32 of Georgetown, sustained minor injuries and were taken to Beebe Hospital. Ms. Moore was cited for Failure to Yield to an Emergency Vehicle.
All parties were wearing seatbelts and alcohol was not a factor. The ambulance was en-route to a medical assistance call and did not have any patients on board.
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7 comments:
Another prime example of the lack of observation that people use. I see it everytime I get behind the wheel of an ambulance. Salisbury is terrible for it. I dont understand how you can not see or hear an emergency vehicle coming up in a intersection, or behind you.
No disrespect but I can see what happened here. The Impala was in the far lane and depending on what was in the other two lanes, ir's quite possible they didn't see the ambulance coming across the road against the traffic light signal. I wasn't there, so I can't be positive but from the discription of the Press Release it seemed pretty obvious. Now, did they have the radio blasting? Were they text messaging someone? There's lots of reasons why BOTH parties didn't yield for each other. At least no one was seriously hurt.
That is BullS**T. The Stop light has control of the intersection. The ambulance is asking right away.
The ambulance observed traffic stopped. Wrong, Otherwise he would of seen the car coming down the right land. I hope Ms. Moore goes to court an fights the ticket. And before anyone says anything, Yes I want the ambulance to get there as soon as Possible, Safely. Does not help anybody if they don't get there. Yes, Sorry to here this happed.
The ambulance did not have right of way if they had the red light. A good lawyer will get a great settlement out of the ambulance company. Salisbury and other ambulances coming through Salisubury are just lucky when blowing the red lights that no one has hit them yet.
The only vehicle legally allowed to "run" a red light is a USPS mail delivery truck.
I've been an EMT for 7 years so I know a few things.
The case against the Chevy driver will not hold up, she had a green light, the ambulance did not. Lights or no lights in EVOC (emergency vehcile operating course) training they teach you that it may be OK and nessacary to run a red light but only if you 100% certain that all traffic has come to a stop.
I agree with 11:03... besides, how much experience can a 22 year old emergency vehicle driver have? Sad, but true - accidents happen. It's not fair to automatically blame the civilian driver.
I agree with Anon 11:03. Also evoc teaches you to treat every lane as if it were it's own seperate intersection. The ambo is only asking for the right of way.
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