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Submit Your Close Call / Near Miss Navigation Home Close Calls Secret List Gallery EMS CloseCalls Drills Firefighter Staffing Personal Survival Safety and survival SOGs Links Modern Fire Behavior About Us Never Forget Fire Communications Pass it On Lodd Calendar LODD STATS Yearly Totals Year Totals 2015 55 2014 87 2013 101 2012 83 2011 81 2010 87 2009 93 2008 118 2007 118 2006 107 "In Memory Of" Click this patch   Custom Search  Contact Info  Email BillyG info@ firefighterclosecalls.com  Email Weekly Drill Suggestions to Drills@firefighter closecalls.com Click Here for The 9/11 Widows' and Victims' Families Association Click Here: Skyscraper Safety Campaign       Click here to read the most recent issue of The Secret List. EMSCloseCalls.com.....   News and related Updates (Also check the most current issue of THE SECRET LIST for related News and Updates-Click Here) Fatal Crash Closes Reisterstown Road In Owings Mills - Maryland  Friday, August 21, 2015   A portion of Reisterstown Road in Owings Mills remains closed to traffic as police investigate a fatal  accident. A crash was reported just after 3 p.m. on Reisterstown Road at St. Thomas Lane near the Garrison Forest School. Reisterstown Road was closed in both directions between Olive Lane and Painters Mill Road, SkyTeam 11 reported. SkyTeam 11 video shows a car that struck a pole and a damaged EMS SUV behind it. County emergency officials said a car and an EMS unit were involved in the crash. Police confirm one person died in the crash.         Tweet   Woman, dog killed in crash with emergency vehicle in Owings Mills - Maryland  Friday, August 21, 2015   By Colin Campbell A woman and a dog were killed in a crash with a Baltimore County Fire Department emergency vehicle responding to a priority call in Owings Mills Thursday, police said. The woman, Delores Scott, 73, was behind the wheel of a light brown Honda at about 3 p.m. when it was struck by a Suburban EMS-5 at Reisterstown Road and St. Thomas Center, Baltimore County police said. An EMS supervisor sustained minor injuries in the crash, the union said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased," the Baltimore County fire union, IAFF 1311, said. The Police Department's CRASH team is investigating.       Tweet   Fire department ambulance involved in crash; 2 injured - Las Vegas  Friday, August 21, 2015   By Jesse Granger Two people, one of them a firefighter, suffered minor injuries in an accident involving a Las Vegas Fire & Rescue ambulance, fire department officials said. The ambulance collided with another vehicle about 9:25 a.m. at the intersection of Bonneville Avenue and Fourth Street. The ambulance was returning to its station after a call and was not using its emergency lights or siren. A firefighter in the cab of the ambulance and the driver of the other vehicle were taken to the hospital; both complained of neck and back pain, fire department officials said. The intersection was closed, and Metro Police were investigating.       Tweet   AMBULANCE FLIPPED ON ITS SIDE IN WRECK NEAR GALLERIA - Houston  Tuesday, August 18, 2015   HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A truck slammed into an ambulance and flipped the vehicle on its side this morning in the Galleria area. The accident happened on the West Loop near San Felipe around 3am. Police say a truck rear-ended the ambulance as it was leaving the scene of an accident. Two people inside the truck suffered minor injuries. Two Houston Fire Department paramedics were also sent to the hospital, but their condition is unknown. Houston police say the driver of the truck was intoxicated and charges are expected.         Tweet   610 W. Loop North at San Felipe reopens after ambulance wreck - Houston  Tuesday, August 18, 2015   HOUSTON - The northbound lanes of 610 West Loop at San Felipe Street reopened after a three-vehicle accident involving a Houston Fire Department ambulance closed them Sunday. Lanes reopened around 8:20 a.m. According to Houston Transtar, the crash happened around 2:50 a.m. Authorities said the ambulance was responding to a crash the northbound lanes when a suspected drunken driver slammed into the back of it. The ambulance was then hit by a truck and was pushed into a SUV that was driving by. Two people from the ambulance and two from the truck were taken to the hospital. There is no word on how many people were in the SUV but they were also taken to the hospital.       Tweet   Man dies in head-on crash with ambulance in Point Coupee Parish - Louisiana  Monday, August 17, 2015   By Emily Lane, NOLA.com  A 61-year-old Louisiana man is dead after his pickup collided head-on with an ambulance on a state highway in Point Coupee Parish, according to Louisiana State Police. Brett Bergeron of Lottie was killed Friday (Aug 15) night when his southbound-driven 2008 Chevrolet Silverado, for unknown reasons, crossed into the northbound lane on Louisiana 411 and crashed into a 2013 Acadian Ambulance. The ambulance driver, Peter Woods, 45, of Breaux Bridge, and the other Acadian Ambulance employee riding with Woods were treated at the hospital for minor injuries and released, state police spokesman Trooper Bryan Lee said Saturday (Aug. 15). The accident occurred around 7 p.m. Lee said the ambulance was not responding to a call at the time of the accident.  Everyone involved in the crash was wearing a seat belt. The parish coroner pronounced Bergeron dead at the scene. Police do not suspect impairment to have been a factor in the crash. Woods, however, submitted to a breathalyzer and showed no signs of impairment.        Tweet   Horry County addressing recent rash of county ambulance wrecks - South Carolina  Saturday, August 15, 2015   Horry County ambulances have been involved in a series of wrecks this year. ABC15 News wanted to find out exactly how many and what the county was doing about it. In March, an Horry County ambulance driver was ticketed for disregarding a stop sign in connection with a wreck that injured five people. County ambulances were also involved in other crashes in June and July, among the 46 incidents involving county emergency vehicles through the first six months of the year. County officials say that is an unusually high number and the county administration has taken action to address it. "We've implemented additional procedures and policies and we've even increased the amount of fees that we fine our employees if they're found at fault for that," said Horry County public information officer Lisa Bourcier. Bourcier said drivers found to be at fault for preventable accidents could be disciplined on a scale that starts with $100 fees, up to termination. Also, county Fire Chief Scott Thompson says all ambulance drivers will undergo additional Certified Emergency Vehicle Operators training, beyond the 40 hours they currently receive. "This actually puts an instructor with knowledge of this particular curriculum in front of our people and it's 4 hours and we'll do this annually, in addition to the stuff they get every month," said Thompson. Within the past year, Thompson said the department has implemented a new emergency response policy to prioritize each call. "Certain types of those calls we are not responding to with lights and siren," he said. Thompson said accidents can happen when ambulance drivers responding to an emergency call get tunnel vision and that's one thing the county is trying to eliminate. "One accident is too many. So 46 is definitely outside our acceptable range," said Thompson. Bourcier said an insurance reserve fund reviews all accidents and county insurance rates have not gone up so far.           Tweet   Tobyhanna woman dies after trying to save another's life - Pennsylvania  Saturday, August 15, 2015   By Lynn Ondrusek Pocono Record Writer Samantha Agins’ legacy was "If you can help someone, you have to try," according to her mother, Paula Agins.Agins, 22, of Tobyhanna, died Tuesday after suffering a series of strokes after trying to save another woman’s life while working as an EMT at the New Jersey Jaycee Camp.Samantha had aspirations of becoming a physician’s assistant, was a senior at East Stroudsburg University with a 4.0 GPA and on her way to achieving her dreams of helping others, her mother said Thursday.When a woman at the camp suffered a cardiac arrest, she jumped into action. “Sam started giving her CPR,” Paula Agins said. “She hooked up the (automated external defibrillator), and it kept telling her to push harder. She never wanted to quit.”Samantha Agins kept trying to save the woman’s life until the ambulance showed up.It was after the chaotic scene that Paula Agins learned Samantha had the first of four strokes that evening. But because it was Samantha’s first attempt to save someone, everyone thought she was in shock, her mother said.When she lay down and vomited, but was still alert, Paula Agins asked the camp if she could take Samantha home, but was told no in case the coroner wanted to speak with her.“That’s when she had another mini stroke,” Paula Agins said. “She wasn’t as responsive as the first time, but I could take her home.”On the ride home, Paula Agins said she was kidding around and trying to get Samantha relaxed, but by the time they got home, Samantha was grunting and pointing, but still responsive. Around 3:30 a.m. Saturday, Samantha had a major stroke and was taken to Pocono Medical Center.It was there that the doctor told her that an artery was dissected during the CPR and caused Samantha to suffer a stroke in her brain stem, which killed all the nerves to that part of her brain, her mother said.She was transported to Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia, and spent a few days on life support there, before she died Tuesday evening, her mother said.Late Sunday night, when Paula Agins went back to the hospital just to see her daughter, she knew something changed in her.“I told my husband when I saw her, she was different. She wasn’t there anymore,” she said, explaining her daughter had locked-in syndrome, where she could hear those around her, but wasn’t aware that they were there. “On Monday afternoon, she was no longer in that syndrome. She was in a coma and she wasn’t coming back.”Since Samantha’s death, the Agins family has received a shower of community support from social media, the camp and EMT groups. Paula Agins said a New Jersey EMT group will be playing bagpipes at the funeral and a national EMT group will be recognizing Samantha because she died in the line of duty.The hashtag #PurpleHeartsforSam is also being used on social media, created by one of her younger sisters.“It’s been very overwhelming,” Paula Agins said. “It speaks to the testimonial of just what kind of kid she was.”As a child, Samantha had severe hearing issues and was in and out of children’s hospitals, which inspired her to want to help others.Paula and her husband decided to donate her tissue, and her hair will be donated to Locks of Love. It’s what Samantha would have wanted.A memorial scholarship for Pocono Mountain East High School seniors is being set up at ESSA bank in Samantha’s name. To donate, send checks to ESSA in care of the Samantha C. Agins Memorial Scholarship.       Tweet   DRONE ALMOST HITS SKYLIFE HELICOPTER IN FRESNO  Friday, August 14, 2015   FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A drone almost hit a Fresno SkyLife helicopter on Wednesday. The close encounter happened 1,000 feet in the air, roughly two miles away from Fresno Yosemite International Airport. A call to air traffic control from 1,000 feet above Fresno: "Medivac, we almost got hit by a drone. Just letting you know up here," a SkyLife pilot said in a taped recording. It was a very close call for SkyLife One, for the pilot, the crew and a patient on board. "We didn't see it until it pretty much got right up on us; it passed right behind us," the pilot said. John McGrew is a flight paramedic and he was in the chopper. "The split-second thought is, you know, this guy is a little too close; this could be a serious problem," McGrew said. He says the pilot spotted the drone and dodged with a controlled turn. Still, it almost hit the helicopter's rotor and just missed it by roughly 20 feet. "With the training we receive, we're very aware of what's going on around us," said Vince Ellis, a flight nurse who was also on board. "I think that's what mitigates these risks." According to Federal Aviation Administration rules, the drone was in a no-fly zone. Operators are not allowed to fly above 500 feet or within five miles of an airport. "User error, user ignorance, the user just going off and doing whatever they feel like," said Chris Geiger, who is a UAV enthusiast. Geiger knows the rules and says there's no excuse for getting in the way of a SkyLife helicopter. "It's like driving down the road, seeing an ambulance in your rearview mirror and nobody is pulling over," said Geiger. SkyLife One was on its way to Community Regional Medical Center. Fortunately, the close encounter was brief, and the patient was dropped off safely. Airport police also responded to the call but couldn't find the drone or the operator. The FAA is investigating the case.       Tweet   Several firefighters hurt in Miami crash involving fire truck, ambulance  Wednesday, August 12, 2015   MIAMI - At least half a dozen firefighters were hurt in a crash involving a fire truck and ambulance Tuesday afternoon in Miami. A cellphone video captured the chaotic scene of firefighters breaking through the front windshield of one of their fire trucks, flipped on its side with a crew of four inside. Late Tuesday, the last group of firefighters who were hurt in the crash left Jackson Memorial Hospital. "It sounded like an explosion," Kyera Greene, who witnessed the crash, told Local 10 News. "It was loud and it was scary. We didn't know where the trucks were going to go." The crash happened at Northwest 12th Avenue and Northwest 14th Street, a few blocks west of Jackson Memorial Hospital. The fire truck was on its way to a call when it crashed into an ambulance that was also on a call. Miami Department of Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Pete Gomez said both vehicles had their lights on and sirens sounding. Sky 10 was above the scene as the fire truck was on its side. The front part of the ambulance was sheered off, and a third car was hit when the fire truck spun out. Twelve people were taken to the hospital, including seven firefighters who were on board both fire-rescue vehicles. A grandmother and two children who were inside the ambulance were also taken to the hospital, as were two people in the car. Hours after the crash, a tow truck was able to get the fire truck upright and load the ambulance onto the back of a flatbed truck.       Tweet   Rescue Truck & Fire Truck Crash In Miami  Tuesday, August 11, 2015   MIAMI (CBSMiami) — Rescue crews rushed firefighters to the hospital after a fire truck and a rescue ambulance collided in Miami Tuesday afternoon. Authorities said they crashed near 12th Ave and 13th Street. Firefighters say their fire engine  from nearby station 5 was heading North on 12th avenue responding to a fire, when it crashed into the fire rescue truck from the same station that was transporting a grandmother and her two grandchildren to University of Miami Hospital. The impact was so severe, it smashed the front end of the rescue truck and caused the fire engine to spin, and then flip over on its side. “We saw the fire truck pass us. The next thing we heard was a popping bang sound,” said witness Joanna Brown. “It sounded absolutely horrible. You could hear the grinding twisting metal and a big boom,” said witness Sally Matson. Witnesses watched as firefighters rushed to the scene to transport seven of their colleagues to the hospital. Seven firefighters in total were rushed to trauma at Jackson Memorial Hospital. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to keep your calm and keep your cool. Obviously tensions run a little higher when you know it’s your people involved,” said Asst. Chief Pete Gomez with the Miam Fire Department. “It looked like every single fire rescue person in the City of Miami was here. We saw them transporting people,” said Matson. In an unrelated accident, an adult and one child were taken to the hospital after being involved in a crash at the same intersection. In total 12 people were taken to the hospital. All are listed as being in stable condition.  Two of the children were taken to regular pediatrics out of precaution. None of those being treated have life threatening injuries. The damage had many here fearing the worst. “Casualties, that’s what I would think but I hope everyone’s okay,” said witness Melissa Perry. The assistant fire chief said all of his firefighters wear seat belts, even when rushing to emergencies as they did in the crash. Authorities are not sure who was at fault for the crash but an investigation is underway. The crash is causing a traffic tie up in the area.         Tweet   2 EMS providers treated at hospital after assault by patient - South Carolina  Tuesday, August 11, 2015   By Harrison Cahill The State SUMTER, S.C. — A Columbia man was taken into custody after he assaulted two Emergency Medical Service workers who attempting to treat him Sunday afternoon, according to Sumter police officials. Tonyia McGirt, a department spokeswoman, said 25-year-old William Terrell Hutley has been charged with two counts of first-degree assault and battery and public disorderly conduct in connection with the incident. McGirt said the EMS workers were dispatched to a gas station in the 200 block of South Guignard Drive to reports of a man not feeling well and lying on the ground behind the business. When EMS workers arrived, they approached Hutley who then allegedly attacked them. Sumter police were dispatched to the scene to provide assistance. McGirt said Hutley would not comply with the multiple verbal instructions from the officers and non-lethal force was used to detain him. The EMS workers were transported to local hospitals following the incident to receive treatment for their injuries. One EMS worker was later transported to a Columbia area hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, McGirt said. Hutley was also treated for injuries he sustained in the altercation with first responders and was then transported to the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center where he awaits a bond hearing. Sumter police are continuing to investigate the altercation.       Tweet   Hickman County ambulance involved in Belle Meade crash - Tennessee  Tuesday, August 11, 2015   NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – An ambulance transporting a patient from Hickman County was involved in a crash Monday in Belle Meade. It happened just before 3 p.m. in the 6600 block of Highway 100. Officials on the scene told News 2 none of the ambulance crew was injured but their patient as well as another driver in the wreck was transported to a nearby hospital. Further details weren’t immediately known.         Tweet   Police: Man overdosing on synthetic marijuana knocks out paramedic with kick - Pennsylvania  Wednesday, August 5, 2015   By Manuel Gamiz Jr. Of The Morning Call A man overdosed on synthetic marijuana early Saturday in Allentown and then fought with emergency responders, knocking out a paramedic with a kick to the head and punching and biting police officers, according to court records. Angel Villafane-Guzman, 35, of the 500 block of North Mohr Street in Allentown, stopped fighting only after an Allentown officer used his Taser to subdue him, according to court records. Villafane-Guzman was charged with three counts of aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment and one count each of resisting arrest, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. He was arraigned by District Judge Wayne Maura and sent to Lehigh County Jail under $75,000 bail. Roberto Garcia Berrios, 32, of the 1000 block of South Carlisle Street in Allentown, allegedly interfered with emergency crews and also was arrested. He was charged with resisting arrest, obstruction with the administration of law, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. He was sent to county jail under $10,000 bail. According to a criminal complaint: Allentown police were dispatched at 2:35 a.m. to the 400 block of Pratt Street to assist paramedics with an overdose. An Allentown officer responded and saw Villafane-Guzman walking. He told police he didn't need their help and was walking to a hospital. The officer told him an ambulance was on the way, but he refused to cooperate. Villafane-Guzman continued walking and was joined by Berrios. Police followed the two men from Pratt Street to the 400 block of Chew Street, where they flagged down a paramedic. They told paramedics Villafane-Guzman was a possible synthetic marijuana and alcohol overdose and needed help. As paramedics were treating Villafane-Guzman and placing him in the back of an ambulance, Berrios tried to help, but was interfering. Paramedics and police told Berrios to step back, but he continued to get in the way and yell. Villafane-Guzman became combative, kicking a paramedic in the head and knocking him out. He kicked an officer in the leg and punched another officer in the arm and ribs. Police took Villafane-Guzman out of the ambulance and put him on the ground. He continued to fight, biting an officer in the forearm. As he was about to bite the officer again, another officer used his Taser on him. The paramedic suffered a concussion, and the two officers suffered redness, bruises and scratches. — Manuel Gamiz Jr.       Tweet   Corvette and ambulance collide in Boardman - Ohio  Wednesday, August 5, 2015   BOARDMAN, Ohio (WYTV) – A corvette and ambulance collided Sunday afternoon in Boardman. The accident happened just after 4 p.m. at the intersection of South Avenue and Route 224. Minor injuries were reported, but the couple in the Corvette were able to walk away from the accident. The ambulance left the scene shortly before 4:30 p.m. Traffic was rerouted as crews worked to clear the accident from the road. A cause for the accident has not been determined.         Tweet     Prev1234Next        1        2        3        4        5        6        7        8        9        10        11        12        13        14        15        16        17        18        19        20        21        22        23        24        25        26        27        28        29        30        31        32        33        34        35        36        37        38        39        40        41        42        43        44        45        46        47        48        49        50        51        52        53        54        55        56        57        58        59        60        61        62        63        64        65        66        67        68        69        70        71        72        73        74        75        76        77        78        79        80        81        82        83        84        85        86        87        88        89        90        91        92        93        94        95        96        97        98        99        100        101        102        103        104        105        106        107        108        109        110        111        112        113        114        115        116        117        118        119        120        121        122        123        124        125        126        127        128        129        130        131        132        133        134        135        136        137        138        139        140        141        142        143        144        145        146        147        148        149        150        151        152        153        154        155        156        157        158        159        160        161        162        163        164        165        166        167        168        169        170        171        172        173        174        175        176        177        178        179        180        181        182        183        184        185        186        187        188        189        190        191        192        193        194        195        196        197        198        199        200        201        202        203        204        205        206        207        208        209        210        211        212        213        214        215        216        217        218        219        220        221        222        223        224        225        226        227        228        229        230        231        232        233        234        235        236        237        238        239        240        241        242        243        244        245        246        247        248        249        250        251        252        253        254        255        256        257        258        259        260        261        262        263        264        265        266        267        268        269        270        271        272        273        274        275        276        277        278        279        280        281        282        283        284        285        286        287        288        289        290        291        292        293        294        295        296        297        298        299        300        301        302        303        304        305        306        307        308        309        310        311        312        313        314        315        316        317        318        319        320        321        322        323        324        325        326        327        328        329        330        331        332        333        334        335        336        337        338        339        340        341       Page 1 of 341 [ Total items: 5103]    Search for news stories : Select Year      Select Year     2015     2014     2013     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003     2002     2001     2000     1997     1972     1940     1938  Select Month      Select Month     Jan     Feb     Mar     Apr     May     Jun     Jul     Aug     Sep     Oct     Nov     Dec  Select Category      Select Category     News Firefighter Close Calls     Pass It On     The Secret List     News Ems Close Calls     Close Calls - 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