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Sunday, September 6, 2015

EMS Close Calls

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Cops: Female stole ambulance in Nanticoke, crashed on Giants Despair in Laurel Run - Pennsylvania 

Sunday, September 6, 2015   By Steve Mocarsky - smocarsky@timesleader.com






LAUREL RUN — A young female was taken into custody today after she allegedly stole an ambulance in Nanticoke, struck a vehicle on Interstate 81 and eventually crashed on Giants Despair in Laurel Run.

Wilkes-Barre Township Patrolman Robert Capparell said at the crash site in Laurel Run that the ambulance was running and unattended in Nanticoke when the female hopped in and took off with the emergency vehicle.

He did not yet have her name or age available, nor any apparent motive.

Capparell said the suspect got on Route 29 and then on Interstate 81 north, where she struck another vehicle. State police are investigating that accident, and Capparell said at the time that he didn’t know if the occupants of the vehicle that was struck were injured.

A Wilkes-Barre Township officer spotted the ambulance on Route 309 and unsuccessfully tried to initiate a traffic stop.

“Then on East Northampton Street, she almost rammed another cruiser,” Capparell said.

Capparell pursued the suspect east on East Northampton Street and the driver struck Capparell’s cruiser near the border between Wilkes-Barre Township and Laurel Run, where the start of the famous Giants Despair Hillclimb car race is staged annually.

“As we were pursuing her, she ended up striking one of our vehicles and we had to stop her,” he said.

About 100 yards up the hill, Capparell said, he initiated a “precision interception technique” in an attempt to stop the ambulance, and the ambulance “spun out” and stopped facing west on the north side of the road in a ditch against an embankment.

“She was trying to drive away. Once she realized the van wasn’t going anywhere, she got out and put her hands up,” Capparell said.

Capparell said township police were questioning the female at the police station.

Check back to timesleader.com for an updated story after more details become available.



Reach Steve Mocarsky at 570-991-6386 or on Twitter @TLSteveMocarsky.








     

 

Stolen ambulance chase ends in crash - Pennsylvania 

Sunday, September 6, 2015   ERIC MARK, STAFF WRITER

A wild police chase that started when a young woman stole an ambulance in Nanticoke ended with the ambulance crashed in the foothills of Giants Despair in Laurel Run and the woman in custody on Friday afternoon.

“In 19 years, I have never had to stop an ambulance that was stolen,” said Wilkes-Barre Township police Officer Robert Capparell as he compared notes with other officers and emergency responders at the scene, off East Northampton Street near the entrance to Laurel Run Estates.

Capparell said he utilized a “precision interception technique” to disable the Trans-Med ambulance and end the chase, after the woman struck his cruiser as she tried to flee from pursuing officers shortly before 4 p.m.

The woman was not injured, according to Capparell. She was taken into custody and transported to Wilkes-Barre Township police headquarters, he said. There were no patients and no one else in the ambulance apart from the suspect, he added.

The suspect appeared to be young, Capparell said.

Minor damage was evident on the right front side of Capparell’s cruiser, parked on the side of the east travel lane of East Northampton Street. The disabled ambulance, which appeared to be badly damaged, sat just off the west travel lane, facing downhill.

Chuck Revitt, who lives off East Northampton Street near the site where the chase ended, said he saw “a parade of police heading east up the mountain” and went outside to see what happened.

“It was crazy,” he said. “I thought there was some kind of disaster going on.”

The incident started when the woman stole the ambulance in Nanticoke, then drove onto Route 29 to Interstate 81 North, where she struck a vehicle before exiting the interstate onto Route 309 North, according to Capparell.

The pursuit picked up when a Wilkes-Barre Township officer tried to pull over the ambulance on Route 309 near Watson Street, Capparell said. The driver refused to stop and sped off, turning right onto East Northampton Street and heading uphill toward Laurel Run and Giants Despair, with multiple police units chasing her.

The driver kept trying to elude officers as she drove east and approached the steep, curvy hill, Capparell said. However, after the ambulance spun out and came to a stop, the woman put up her hands and surrendered “once she realized (she) wasn’t going anywhere,” he said.

The ambulance was parked on East State Street in Nanticoke when it was stolen, said David Prohaska, director of community relations for Trans-Med Ambulance Inc., based in Luzerne. Its crew was on a non-emergency call assisting another crew with a patient when the woman drove off in the ambulance, which had been left unattended, Prohaska said.

Trans-Med officials are conducting an internal investigation to determine if the company’s protocols for unattended vehicles were violated, he said.

“We’re grateful that no one was injured in the unfortunate incident that occurred today,” Prohaska said. “We are reviewing incident reports from our staff to determine if policies were followed regarding unattended vehicles.”

There was no one in the ambulance when it was taken, Prohaska said, adding that the ambulance suffered serious damage in the accident that ended the police chase.

“It’s unfortunate that even emergency vehicles are susceptible to this,” he said. Trans-Med has never had a service vehicle stolen before, but another ambulance company had a vehicle stolen while on a call in Edwardsville a few years ago, he added.

Prohaska deferred further comment on the Nanticoke portion of the incident to that city’s police department.

An operator who answered the phone at the Nanticoke police station Friday night said detectives were still investigating and were unavailable for comment.

State police are investigating the accident the woman driving the stolen ambulance apparently caused on Interstate 81, Capparell said.

Authorities had not officially released the suspect’s name as of press time and there was no court record indicating she had been arraigned.
     

 

Man cited after crashing into ambulance - Colorado 

Thursday, September 3, 2015   By Angela Case

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A man was cited after crashing into an ambulance that was responding to an emergency Friday evening.

Police said the crash happened around 6:30 p.m. at the intersection of Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard. Witnesses told police the ambulance, which had its lights and siren activated, slowed at the intersection, waited for traffic to stop, and then began to proceed through the intersection. A car that was headed west on Austin Bluffs failed to stop and hit the ambulance.

Police said there were no significant injuries in the crash.

The driver of the car, Kevin Eddinger, was cited for careless driving resulting in an accident and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.
     

 

Man arrested after pointing gun at paramedic - Texas 

Thursday, September 3, 2015   By Travis Ruiz

AMARILLO, Texas -- The man accused of pointing a gun at an Amarillo paramedic is now in custody following a lengthy standoff Monday evening. 


He was identified as 56-year-old Timothy Carl McFaul. After being medically cleared, McFaul was booked into the Randall County Jail on a charge of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

The incident started at about 6:40 when paramedics responded to the report of a fallen man at a home in the 4100-block of South Monroe Street.

When paramedics arrived at the home, police said man, now identified as McFaul, who had reportedly fallen, picked up a long gun and pointed it at one of the paramedics. The paramedics and a woman who was inside the home left the home.

Police then arrived, along with SWAT negotiators. Police said McFaul would not respond to the officer's commands. A bomb team robot was able to find McFaul by video view. It captured him appearing to be asleep in bed.

About 5 hours later, SWAT officers went inside the home and took McFaul into custody without any further incident.

Officers found a .22 caliber rifle they believed was the weapon pointed at paramedics, police said.
     

 

LODD: Minn. FF/Paramedic collapses in station, fatal heart attack 

Thursday, September 3, 2015   By Jaime DeLage
Pioneer Press

St. Paul, Minn. — A St. Paul firefighter died of a heart attack Monday evening after collapsing at his Merriam Park firehouse, the first loss of a city firefighter in the line of duty since 2009.

Firefighter-paramedic Shane Clifton, 38, collapsed after exercising at Station 14, 111 N. Snelling Ave. He was later pronounced dead at Regions Hospital, according to Fire Chief Tim Butler.

Butler, Mayor Chris Coleman and other officials expressed condolences to Clifton's family and colleagues during a news conference Monday night at Fire Department headquarters.

"It is never easy when we lose someone that puts his life on the line on a daily basis and works so hard to save others," Coleman said.

Clifton, who staffed Engine 14 and Medic 14, was on duty and was working out just after 5 p.m. Monday when he suddenly wasn't feeling well and then collapsed at the firehouse, Butler said.

He was treated by fellow firefighters and medics at the firehouse three blocks north of Summit Avenue and then transported to Regions Hospital, where lifesaving efforts continued, Butler said. He was pronounced dead at 6:40 p.m. He had suffered a catastrophic cardiac arrest.

Before joining the St. Paul Fire Department on Oct. 1, 2007, Clifton, a Navy veteran, worked as an emergency department technician at Unity Hospital in Fridley and at Allina emergency medical services.

Clifton was an extraordinary firefighter, a superb paramedic and strong as an ox, said Mike Smith, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 21.

"This is the hardest day," a choked-up Smith said. "We're not supposed to be trying to save our own. We do this ... for the citizens of St. Paul."

With Clifton's death, 63 St. Paul firefighters have died in the line of duty since 1854.

The most recent death in the line of duty was Ramon "Ray" Hain, who contracted a blood-borne pathogen while responding to an emergency medical call in 1996. The pathogen led to an infection that severely damaged his heart. He never returned to his firefighting duties and died in 2009 at age 50.

Clifton had two children who, along with his parents, will receive the support of the department and union.

The Station 14 colleagues who worked to save Clifton's life were sent home to their own families and relieved by firefighters from other stations.

The firefighters at Station 14 late Monday remembered Clifton as a fun-loving and hard-working teammate. They said he did his time rotating through St. Paul stations until he was able to get the assignment he wanted, which was Engine 14.

"He loved his job and he loved being a firefighter," said Capt. Dennis Jones.

HOW TO HELP

The St. Paul Fire Honor Guard is collecting donations for memorial markers at the fire stations or place of death of the department's fallen firefighters. The plaques have been funded by donations from community members, families of the fallen firefighters and Hubbard Broadcasting. Additional donations are being accepted at stpaulfirehonorguard.org, where you can see a map of plaques and information about each fallen firefighter.
     

 

Two Barry-Lawrence ambulances damaged in crash - Montana 

Thursday, September 3, 2015   Two Barry-Lawrence County Ambulance District ambulances received damage in a three-vehicle collision at 4:08 p.m. on Friday on Highway 60, three miles east of Neosho at Highway 59.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the ambulances were eastbound on Highway 60 and approached a 2001 Ford Windstar SUV, driven by Joshua Gose, 30, of Springfield, that had stopped in traffic to make a left turn onto Highway 59. The first ambulance, driven by Shala Bass, 25, of Diamond, slowed to stop, but was struck in the rear by the second ambulance, driven by Jesse Merritt, 25, of Aurora. The impact pushed the first ambulance into the rear of Gose's SUV before traveling off the south edge of the roadway. The ambulance driven by Merritt continued east and also collided with the SUV.

All three drivers were wearing seat belts and were transferred to Joplin hospitals for treatment. Merritt had moderate injuries while Bass and Gose received minor injuries.

Gose's SUV received moderate damage. Merritt's ambulance had extensive damage. Bass's ambulance had moderate damage. Both were 2013 Chevrolet rigs.

The Barry-Lawrence Ambulance District has four ambulances in service, plus a fifth ambulance that was going to be sold. Mike Bennett, district board president, said the vehicle up for sale will be put back into service. The district will continue to answer calls with its two full-time crews, and has a back-up vehicle available if needed.  
     

 

Patient stabs firefighter in hospital - California 

Thursday, September 3, 2015   LOS ANGELES — A firefighter with the Los Angeles Fire Department was stabbed by a patient at a hospital Tuesday night.

KTLA reported that the stabbing occurred around 9:30 p.m. in the hospital emergency room while the patient was on a mental health hold.

The patient had been brought to the hospital by paramedics after being picked up at a bus station in downtown Los Angeles for an unknown medical condition. That's when he allegedly pulled a knife out of his sock, stabbed the firefighter and threatened other hospital staff members before being tackled by security guards, according to the report.

The firefighter is in stable condition with a non life-threatening wound to his arm. Two people on the emergency room staff were also injured in the struggle to subdue the patient after the stabbing, according to Pasadena Star News. Their injuries are minor.

The unidentified patient is in custody and is expected to be booked on suspicion of attempted murder.
     

 

2 AMBULANCES INVOLVED IN SAME CRASH IN MO 

Monday, August 31, 2015    Two Barry-Lawrence County Ambulance District ambulances received damage in a three-vehicle collision at 4:08 p.m. on Friday on Highway 60, three miles east of Neosho at Highway 59.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the ambulances were eastbound on Highway 60 and approached a 2001 Ford Windstar SUV, driven by Joshua Gose, 30, of Springfield, that had stopped in traffic to make a left turn onto Highway 59. The first ambulance, driven by Shala Bass, 25, of Diamond, slowed to stop, but was struck in the rear by the second ambulance, driven by Jesse Merritt, 25, of Aurora. The impact pushed the first ambulance into the rear of Gose's SUV before traveling off the south edge of the roadway. The ambulance driven by Merritt continued east and also collided with the SUV.

All three drivers were wearing seat belts and were transferred to Joplin hospitals for treatment. Merritt had moderate injuries while Bass and Gose received minor injuries.

Gose's SUV received moderate damage. Merritt's ambulance had extensive damage. Bass's ambulance had moderate damage. Both were 2013 Chevrolet rigs.

The Barry-Lawrence Ambulance District has four ambulances in service, plus a fifth ambulance that was going to be sold. Mike Bennett, district board president, said the vehicle up for sale will be put back into service. The district will continue to answer calls with its two full-time crews, and has a back-up vehicle available if needed.
     

 

Ambulance involved in Scarborough crash - Georgia 

Sunday, August 30, 2015   SCARBOROUGH (WGME) -- A car is wrecked, and an ambulance is undergoing repairs, after a collision in Scarborough.
    
Officers say the ambulance was responding to a call, and tried to make a U-turn on Route 1.
    
That's when police say a car, following too closely, hit the side of the ambulance.
    
Officials say it's important to move over for emergency vehicles.
    
"There is a move over law which is fairly new and a lot of people don’t understand it,” Deputy Chief Glen Deering said. “If you see a fire apparatus or police cruiser, even a wrecker, you should be pulling to the left and giving them plenty of room to get by."
    
No one is hurt, but the department says the crash will put the ambulance out of service for a while.  
     

 

Ambulance, SUV crash in Toms River - New Jersey 

Sunday, August 30, 2015   TOMS RIVER – An SUV collided with an ambulance Friday in front of the public works building, police said.

Police responded around 11:50 a.m. to the crash at the intersection of North Bay Avenue and Church Road, according to an email statement from Officer Ralph Stocco.

One person suffered a minor injury, Stocco said. He didn't say whether the ambulance had a patient on board.

A traffic sign was bent in the crash. The twisted metal and a box of blue gloves lay on the grass in front of the public works building Friday afternoon.

Steph Solis: 732-643-4043; ssolis@gannettnj.com  
     

 

Four hurt in wreck involving ambulance in Cheviot - Ohio 

Thursday, August 27, 2015   By 

CHEVIOT, Ohio —Four people were injured in a crash involving an ambulance Wednesday afternoon in Cheviot.

According to Cheviot fire, a First Care ambulance was driving south on North Bend Road when it collided with an SUV driving north. The two vehicles became pinned against a parked car.

Authorities said four people suffered significant injuries.

Three were in the ambulance: two caregivers and a patient. The fourth person hurt was in the SUV, police said.

All were transported to UC Medical Center. 
     

 

Woman hurt, ambulance struck in Rt. 191 crashes in Lower Nazareth - Pennsylvania 

Tuesday, August 25, 2015   By Pamela Sroka-Holzmann | For lehighvalleylive.com 

An elderly woman was seriously injured Sunday and a Nazareth ambulance was struck during separate crashes that occurred along Route 191 in Lower Nazareth Township.

Colonial Regional Police Chief Roy Seiple said the first crash occurred around 3:30 p.m. An elderly couple was northbound, attempted to turn left into Joe's Flower Market and was broadsided by an oncoming vehicle, he said.

The female passenger -- her name was not released -- was taken to the hospital and was in critical condition Monday, Seiple said.

During the second crash around the same time, a Nazareth Ambulance Corps vehicle was transporting a patient to a hospital and was struck by another vehicle, he said.

There were no reported injuries in that crash, Seiple said. The road remained open and traffic was diverted around the crash scenes.

Initial reports had indicated multiple people were entrapped inside vehicles and a motorcyclist or bicyclist was struck, but those reports turned out to be false, according to Seiple.
     

 

Ambulance struck by vehicle in Century City; 3 hospitalized - California 

Tuesday, August 25, 2015   A Los Angeles Fire Department ambulance responding to a call for service was struck by a vehicle in the Central City area of Los Angeles, sending three people to a hospital, police said Monday.

The accident happened at Sixteenth and Main streets around 9:45 p.m. Sunday, said Sgt. Rares Isai of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Central Traffic Division.

“There was no patient in the back of the ambulance,” which was responding to a call for service, Isai said.    “The driver of the vehicle failed to yield” and “the ambulance was hit and pushed onto a sidewalk.”

One person from the civilian vehicle was transported to California Hospital with minor injuries and the paramedics were transported to the same facility to be checked by doctors as a precaution, Isai said.  
     

 

Man Charged with Threatening Police, Assault of Paramedic - Kentucky 

Tuesday, August 25, 2015   BELTON, Ky. (8/24/15) — A Belton man has been charged with assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and terroristic threatening after police say he threatened a police officer and attempted to kick a paramedic.

According to a Muhlenberg County Sheriff's report, Deputy Derrick Moore responded to a report of a structure fire Sunday, Aug. 23 on Mill Road, Belton.

The report said after Moore and other first responders arrived at the scene, Robert Chumley of Merle Travis Highway, Belton, threatened Moore and approached him in an aggressive manner. Moore deployed his Tazer incapacitating Chumley.

The report also said that while being treated by a paramedic with the Muhlenberg Ambulance Service, Chumley attempted to kick the emergency worker.

Chumley was charged with third-degree assault, second-degree disorderly conduct, terroristic threatening and resisting arrest.

Beechmont Fire Department, Muhlenberg Ambulance Service, Kentucky State Police and other sheriff's deputies responded to the incident.

SurfKY News


Information provided by Sheriff Curtis McGehee  
     

 

Police: Ambulance struck by gunfire on Long Island - New York 

Sunday, August 23, 2015   FREEPORT, N.Y. (AP) — Police say a Long Island man fired several gunshots, striking a passing ambulance, during an argument with his brother.

Nassau County police say 29-year-old Eric Torres was in an argument with his brother Saturday morning in Freeport when he began shooting a handgun out of a window of his apartment on West Merrick Road.

Authorities say at least one of the bullets struck a passing ambulance. No one was injured.

Police say Torres refused to exit his apartment for more than an hour.

When he surrendered, officers arrested him on weapons possession, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief charges.

His brother was also arrested after police discovered he had an open warrant.

It was not immediately clear whether either of the men had attorneys who could comment on the allegations.  
     

 
 
 

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