Fayetteville Ambulance Involved in Crash - North Carolina Saturday, September 6, 2008 - On Tuesday, September 02, 2008, at approximately 0941 hours the Fayetteville Police Department’s Traffic Unit responded to the area of Raeford Rd. and Bunce Rd, in reference to a four (4) car collision involving a Hoke County Ambulance.  The preliminary investigation indicated a 2007 Ford Ambulance, owned by American Medical Response, was traveling on HWY 401 North (Raeford Rd.) towards Bunce Rd. The ambulance was occupied by the driver, Mr. Hector Michaud IV, EMS worker Jessica Hayworth, and a patient Mr. Curtis White.   As the ambulance approached the intersections of Raeford Rd and Bunce Rd, the ambulance struck three (3) other vehicles, overturned, and came to rest on its driver’s side. It has been determined that the ambulance was not running emergency traffic and was within the speed limit. The driver, Mr. Hector Michaud IV, was charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision and it appears that inattention was a factor.   The other drivers involved included a Jonathan Daniel Matys of Raeford, NC, a Tonya Roper Pearson of Fayetteville, NC and a Jami Kathleen Hernandez of Fayetteville, NC. A total of four individuals were transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and treated for non-life threatening injuries.  -End-     Copyright © 2008, City of Fayetteville, Police Department. All Rights Reserved. 467 Hay St. · Fayetteville, NC 28301 http://blog.drivinglaws.org/2008/09/03/fayetteville-nc-crash-involving-ambulance/

Paramedic Assaulted in Ilinois Saturday, September 6, 2008 - West Dundee • Elgin man faces aggravated battery, other charges: Christopher P. Brush, 28, 123 Joslyn Drive, Elgin, was charged Sunday with resisting a peace officer, aggravated battery to a peace officer, aggravated battery to a paramedic and aggravated assault, according to police reports. West Dundee police responded to a call about an intoxicated man on the 100 block of North Second Street just after midnight, reports said. Brush was so intoxicated he reportedly believed his wallet to be his cell phone after officers returned his identification and attempted to call his girlfriend with it, police said. The Courier News: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/police/1141651,3_1_EL03_A4BLOTTER_S1.article Police also discovered he was wanted on a warrant for parole violation and took him into custody, reports said. Brush reportedly struggled with West Dundee police while being transported and booked, and the West Dundee Fire Department transported him to Sherman Hospital in Elgin. While at the hospital, he reportedly spit at a West Dundee paramedic and an Elgin police officer. He was held overnight and taken to Kane County jail where he was a being held in lieu of $7,500 bail, according to reports. He is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 12.

Paramedic in Critical Condition After Crash - South Africa Saturday, September 6, 2008 - A paramedic is in a critical condition and four other men were seriously injured after an ambulance, responding to an accident involving a police car, was itself involved in an accident on Prince George Drive on Thursday. The driver of an ER24 ambulance apparently lost control of the vehicle and collided with an oncoming bakkie. The ambulance had been responding to an accident involving the Muizenberg police. Paramedics Cassiem Abrahams of Wynberg and Jason Perreira of Grassy Park, both 28, were severely injured. Abrahams, whose birthday it was on the day of the accident, is in a critical condition at Vincent Palotti Hospital with Perreira. Leigh Keanly, the driver of the bakkie, is also badly hurt, with injuries to his head and face. The two Muizenberg policemen suffered minor neck and back injuries. According to Superintendent Jan Meyer, station commissioner of Steenberg Police Station, officers from his station were on the scene shortly after the events unfolded. Meyer says at about 07:00, the ER24 paramedics lost control of their ambulance. It skidded across the flooded road and catapulted over the island at the intersection of Prince George Drive and Military Road, where it smashed into the white Toyota bakkie. Another ER24 ambulance arrived shortly after in response. Paul Sutton, ER24's local branch manager, says the roads in Prince George Drive were flooded because the drains were blocked, and that this may have caused the accident. Sutton suggested that the City of Cape Town take responsibility for the flooded roads, but Charles Cooper, the city's media liaison officer, says it is improbable that the city can be held responsible. Meyer says Steenberg police have opened dockets of reckless and negligent driving against Perreira (the driver of the ambulance) and Keanly. He says this is a standard procedure in accidents when people are severely injured. "The matter will be thoroughly investigated," says Meyer. The paramedics were responding to an accident in which two Muizenberg police officers were involved after their van rolled near Sunrise Circle in Muizenberg. According to Sergeant Mary-Ann Naidoo, spokesperson for the Muizenberg Police Station, the officers claim a silver car was dri?ving in front of them and turned abruptly off Prince George Drive without indicating. The driver of the police van then had to swerve sharply to avoid the car, hitting the verge and flipping over. The police could not recall the type of car and they did not take note of its number plate. A docket of reckless and negligent driving has also been opened against the driver of the police van. People's Post: http://www.news24.com/Regional_Papers/Components/Category_Article_Text_Template/0,2430,1806_2387982~E,00.html

Man arrested on suspicion of stealing ambulance - Canada Saturday, September 6, 2008 - GEORGE — A 24-year-old Vancouver, B.C., man was arrested early Sunday morning on suspicion of stealing an ambulance. The vehicle was parked at the entrance to the campground area near the Gorge amphitheatre, Grant County Undersheriff John Turley said today. The theft took place at about 12:58 a.m., he said. The man pulled over for authorities "just a couple of miles south of the campground," said Turley. There was no damage to the Quincy Valley Medical Center ambulance, he said. The man was booked into Grant County Jail on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The Gorge hosted a three-day series of concerts by the Dave Matthews Band, with more than 50,000 people attending, according to the sheriff's office. Twelve people were arrested and booked into jail for various drug, alcohol and other charges during the event, according to the sheriff's office. — Jaime Adame, World staff Wenatchee World: http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080902/NEWS04/709029926/1009/NEWS03

Police seek vehicle that hit ambulance - Connecticut Saturday, September 6, 2008 - Police are looking for the driver of a white Cadillac involved in an accident with an American Ambulance vehicle Monday afternoon. State police at Troop E in Montville said the ambulance was getting on Route 2 from Exit 81 of Interstate 395 on its way to The William W. Backus Hospital at 3:47 p.m. when a Cadillac in the right-hand lane changed lanes and collided with the ambulance's left front fender. Police said the driver of the car stopped, and the ambulance went around it to continue on its way to the hospital. Anyone with information is asked to call Troop E at 848-6500, Ext. 5 and ask for Trooper Craig Fox.

Rush County Considers No-Fly Zone - Indiana Saturday, September 6, 2008 - Please refer to WTHR's video for the story http://www.wthr.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?clipId1=2877100&at1=News&vt1=v&h1=Helicopter+crash+update&d1=157667&redirUrl=www.wthr.com&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage&clipFormat=flv&rnd=25587053

Crash was second for company - Indiana Saturday, September 6, 2008 - Sunday's fatal helicopter crash in southeastern Indiana was the second in four years in the state for the company that operated it. Three crew members from an Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter died in Burney, Ind., after their medical chopper crashed about 1 p.m. in a Decatur County cornfield, about 40 miles southeast of Indianapolis. The crew had just finished an appearance at a fundraiser for the Burney Volunteer Fire Department when it piled into the field as it returned to its base at Rush Memorial Hospital in Rushville. One of the crew members on board was Wade Weston, 38, of Cambridge City, flight paramedic and base manager. Weston was a 1988 graduate of Lincoln High School, 1997 graduate of Sinclair Community College as a paramedic and an August 2008 graduate of Ivy Tech as a registered nurse. He was a former volunteer fireman in Dublin and had worked at Fayette Memorial Hospital for 15 years. Other crew members have been identified as pilot Roger Warren and flight nurse Sandra Pearson. "The helicopter exploded on impact and instantly burst into flames," Decatur County Sheriff Daryl Templeton said Sunday. Decatur County Deputy Coroner Bobbi Loggan said the crew was killed instantly. In April 2004, a helicopter for the West Plains, Mo.-based company was transporting a patient when it crashed near Evansville. The patient, Jerry Leonard, 63, suffocated after his stretcher's chest strap became positioned around his neck after the impact of the crash, according to the Warrick County coroner's office. A National Transportation Safety Board report found that an alarm on the helicopter's radar altimeter was set to 75 feet rather than the required 450 feet and that the setting on a separate altimeter provided a false altitude reading. The NTSB report did not, however, say that the altimeter's setting caused the crash. The pilot during the accident, Richard Larock, left the company shortly after the crash. Air Evac Lifeteam, operated by Air Evac EMS Inc., operates more than 75 bases in 12 states throughout the central United States, according to the company. The Rushville base has been in operation since February. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of Sunday's crash.   Pal-Item http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080902/NEWS01/809020308

Jeep, ambulance collide in McHenry - Illinois Saturday, September 6, 2008 - Four people were hurt when an ambulance and a Jeep Cherokee crashed head-on Thursday near Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry. Jeep, ambulance collide in McHenry - Illinois Four people were hurt when an ambulance and a Jeep Cherokee crashed head-on Thursday near Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry. The two paramedics from Nunda Township Fire District were treated and released at the hospital, according to the fire district. The ambulance patient and the SUV driver were treated at the hospital. The crash happened at 4:35 p.m. at 2002 S. Route 31, near Prime Parkway. The accident report was not complete as of 10:30 Thursday night. However, a sheriff's spokesman said that a Jessica M. Lamkin, age and address not available, was driving southbound on Route 31, which is two lanes wide in that area. Witnesses told police that while other traffic pulled to the right to let the northbound ambulance pass, Lamkin did not pull over. Lamkin told police that her vehicle hydroplaned on wet pavement. She was given traffic citations, but the specific charges were not available Thursday night, the spokesman said. The McHenry County Sheriff's Department is investigating   Jeep, ambulance collide in McHenry - Illinois Four people were hurt when an ambulance and a Jeep Cherokee crashed head-on Thursday near Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry. The two paramedics from Nunda Township Fire District were treated and released at the hospital, according to the fire district. The ambulance patient and the SUV driver were treated at the hospital. The crash happened at 4:35 p.m. at 2002 S. Route 31, near Prime Parkway. The accident report was not complete as of 10:30 Thursday night. However, a sheriff's spokesman said that a Jessica M. Lamkin, age and address not available, was driving southbound on Route 31, which is two lanes wide in that area. Witnesses told police that while other traffic pulled to the right to let the northbound ambulance pass, Lamkin did not pull over. Lamkin told police that her vehicle hydroplaned on wet pavement. She was given traffic citations, but the specific charges were not available Thursday night, the spokesman said. The McHenry County Sheriff's Department is investigating   The two paramedics from Nunda Township Fire District were treated and released at the hospital, according to the fire district. The ambulance patient and the SUV driver were treated at the hospital. The crash happened at 4:35 p.m. at 2002 S. Route 31, near Prime Parkway. The accident report was not complete as of 10:30 Thursday night. However, a sheriff's spokesman said that a Jessica M. Lamkin, age and address not available, was driving southbound on Route 31, which is two lanes wide in that area. Witnesses told police that while other traffic pulled to the right to let the northbound ambulance pass, Lamkin did not pull over. Lamkin told police that her vehicle hydroplaned on wet pavement. She was given traffic citations, but the specific charges were not available Thursday night, the spokesman said. The McHenry County Sheriff's Department is investigating

Man sentenced for attack on emergency staff - Connecticut Saturday, September 6, 2008 - By ADAM BENSON, Press Staff     BRISTOL - A city man jailed since May after an attack on two Bristol Hospital employees will stay behind bars for at least two more months. Francis Dougherty, 48, no current address, pleaded guilty in Superior Court Thursday to assault on emergency medical personnel and was given a three-year sentence suspended after 150 days served and three years' probation. The assault happened 2:40 p.m. on May 6, when Dougherty was brought to the hospital after he was found passed out on a homeowner's lawn, according to records. As workers helped to place Dougherty in restraints, the man grew combative, hitting an emergency room nurse in the hand and twice spitting in the face of a paramedic. Dougherty had a blood alcohol content at the time of 0.251 - more than three times the legal limit, records said.  He told authorities at the time he felt he was being abused, but was contrite in front of Judge Peter E. Weise before his sentence was handed down. "With this conviction on my record, I'll be paying for this for the rest of my life," he said. Elisa Villa, Dougherty's public defender, said the man has suffered from alcohol dependency most of his life and is seeking treatment.  "He has a history of alcoholism, but he's a very sincere person and when he's sober he's a good person," she said. Dougherty has a number of previous convictions including charges of disorderly conduct, breach of peace and criminal trespass.   ©The Bristol Press 2008   Link to The Bristol Press: http://www.bristolpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20108735&BRD=1643&PAG=461&dept_id=665528&rfi=6

Mob jostles paramedics helping unconscious man - Canada Wednesday, September 3, 2008 - Liam Casey, The Ottawa Citizen Members of Ottawa's paramedic service were mobbed by as many as 50 people outside a Vanier hall on the weekend after a dispute over treatment of a suspected drug overdose victim, the service says. Two paramedics had to lock themselves with their patient in an ambulance and a supervisor locked himself in his sport-utility vehicle as the crowd rocked and kicked the vehicles and threw beer bottles. Police arrived in two minutes and dispersed the group. Team leader Michael Latimer said paramedics were called to the Knights of Columbus Hall on McArthur Avenue early Sunday with reports of an unconscious man. Five men carried the victim from the building to the paramedic's stretcher, but then became angry when the ambulance didn't immediately leave for a hospital. "In their best judgment, paramedics didn't know why he was unconscious, so they needed to assess the patient first," said Mr. Latimer. The hall was rented out for a young man's 19th birthday. "We kept the bar closed because we were worried about underage drinking," said Gilles Paquin, manager of the Knights of Columbus Hall. "I left around midnight and the police were there, but I didn't see a riot -- I had no problem with these kids. "But you can't stop these kids from drinking before they get here. I did find some beer cans and liquor bottles in the neighbourhood later," Mr. Paquin said. Paramedics took the patient to hospital. His current condition isn't known. No paramedics were injured, but a new employee was shaken up, he said. "What a great inauguration for one of our newest employees," Mr. Latimer said. Ottawa police did not lay any charges. © The Ottawa Citizen 2008 Link to the Ottawa Citizen: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html?id=8e3db903-486e-483e-9069-f62126b3ee46

NTSB: Rotor came off in copter crash - Indiana Wednesday, September 3, 2008 - INDIANAPOLIS - The main rotor came off a medical helicopter before the craft crashed into a southeastern Indiana farm field, killing three crew members, authorities said today. Decatur County Sheriff Daryl Templeton and National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Peter Knudson told The Associated Press that crews found rotor parts hundreds of yards away from the fuselage after the crash Sunday. "The rotor blades were separated and came to rest about 200 yards away," as did the rotor mast, Knudson said. "We have witness reports reporting the same thing." Templeton said investigators found the rotor blades 320 yards from the rest of the wreckage. Witnesses told investigators that the helicopter's nose tipped down before it crashed and exploded in the field near the town of Burney, about 40 miles southeast of Indianapolis. "Much of the fuselage was burned pretty considerably," Knudson said. The NTSB is not expected to release the official cause of the crash for at least nine months, Knudson said. The fuselage was found 1.2 miles from where the helicopter took off from the Burney Volunteer Fire Department, Knudson said. The helicopter, operated by Missouri-based Air Evac Lifeteam, was not carrying a patient when it crashed. It had been at an event for the fire department and crashed as it was returning to its base in nearby Rushville. The company said that those killed were pilot Roger Warren, flight nurse Sandra Pearson, and flight paramedic and base manager Wade Weston. The base at Rush Memorial Hospital had been in operation only since February, according to Air Evac. Warren resided in Otsego, Mich., near Kalamazoo, said Julie Heavrin, a company spokeswoman. Weston, 38, resided in Cambridge City and was married with two daughters, the Richmond Palladium-Item reported in an obituary today. Pearson, a 1988 graduate of Paoli High School, had worked at the Air Evac base in Paoli before transferring to the base in Rushville, The Times-Mail of Bedford reported. She had a 10-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter. Air Evac's four bases in Indiana were not accepting patient missions until crew members, many of whom had flown with those killed, could be assessed. "They will go back into operation when it is determined they are ready," the company said. Air Evac's other Indiana bases are in Brazil, Evansville and Paoli. The company, which has its headquarters in West Plains, Mo., has 79 bases in 13 states. The NTSB's Knudson said the agency's investigator was expected to remain at the crash scene through Wednesday. A preliminary report might be released as early as Friday, he said. Link to JC Online: http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080902/NEWS09/80902020

3 Dead After Medical Helicopter Crashes Near Greensburg - Indiana Wednesday, September 3, 2008 - GREENSBURG, Ind. -- Three people were killed Sunday afternoon when a medical helicopter went down near Greensburg, police said.   The crash happened just after 1 p.m. near County Road 700 West and Base Line Road, just outside of Greensburg, officials with the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department said. The pilot -- Roger Warren -- a flight nurse -- Sandra Pearson -- and a flight paramedic -- Wade Weston -- on the Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter based in Rushville were killed when the helicopter crashed, officials said.   The crew was leaving a fundraiser at the Burney Fire Department and did not have a patient onboard, officials said.   Police said the helicopter was about a half a mile into the flight when it fell from the sky. Witnesses told 6News' Tanya Spencer they saw something fall from the aircraft just before it crashed.   “This is a tragic day for us here at Air Evac Lifeteam,” said company president Seth Myers. “These were our family members and we are devastated at this loss. Our focus at this time is on providing support for the family and friends of these crewmembers.”   The cause of the accident was still under investigation Sunday evening. Copyright 2008 by TheIndyChannel.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Link to The Indy Channel with video and photos: http://www.theindychannel.com/news/17353706/detail.html#

Medical helicopter crashes, kills all crew - Indiana Wednesday, September 3, 2008 - An Air Evac Lifeteam air medical helicopter, based in Rushville, Ind., was involved in an accident around 1:17 p.m. Sunday near the community of Burney, Ind., killing all three crew members aboard the aircraft. "This is a tragic day for us here at Air Evac Lifeteam," said Air Evac Lifeteam President Seth Myers. "These were our family members and we are devastated at this loss. Our focus at this time is on providing support for the family and friends of these crew members." The crew was en route back to their base. There was no patient on board. The crew included pilot Roger Warren, flight nurse Sandra Pearson, and flight paramedic and Base Manager Wade Weston. At this time, the cause of the accident is unknown. Officials with the FAA have been notified and will begin their formal investigation, along with the National Transportation Safety Board. Link to EMS Network: http://www.emsnetwork.org/artman2/publish/article_33769.shtml

Ambulance flips while carrying patient - North Carolina Wednesday, September 3, 2008 - An ambulance carrying a patient crashed Tuesday morning in Fayetteville, sending the patient and medical crew to a hospital, police said. The crash happened at about 9 a.m. near the intersection of Raeford Road and Bunce Road, blocking northbound traffic on Raeford Road for a couple of hours. Traffic was stopped on Raeford Road for a red light, and the ambulance failed to stop for the light and swerved to avoid the traffic, police said. The ambulance clipped the back of a car, causing the ambulance driver to lose control and the vehicle to flip, police said, noting two other vehicles also were damaged in the incident. The ambulance is owned by American Medical Response and was coming from Hoke County. Its lights and siren weren't on at the time of the wreck, police said, and it was unclear if it was headed to a hospital or a physician's office. The ambulance driver, Hector Michaud IV, was charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision, police said. Michaud, paramedic Jessica Hayworth and Curtis White, the patient in the ambulance, were taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. There was no word on White's initial medical condition. Link to story with photo: http://www.emsnetwork.org/artman2/publish/article_33787.shtml

Motorcyclists killed after slamming into ambulance - New Mexico Wednesday, September 3, 2008 - ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Albuquerque police are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash involving an ambulance at the intersection of Yale Boulevard SE and Lomas Boulevard NE that took place around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. Witnesses say the driver of the "bike" slammed into an ambulance at high speed as it was heading east on Lomas when the westbound ambulance made a turn in front of it onto Yale Blvd.  The motorcycle was shattered, tying up traffic as pieces were scattered on the street. Investigators say the ambulance was not running a code (when lights and sirens are on) but it was on a call. John Walsh of the Albuquerque Police Department told KRQE News 13 that "the motorcyclist, according to witnesses, was speeding and accelerated into the intersection striking the side of the ambulance." Witnesses also say the motorcycle rider was not wearing a helmet. Police investigators are trying to determine the speed of the motorcycle and what stage the traffic light was to determine who had the right of way at the intersection. Police say the driver of the motorcycle, described only as a 22-year-old Hispanic male, was pronounced dead later at the hospital. The name of the man riding the motorcycle still has not been released. KRQE | Reporter: Greg Gurule | Web Producer: Paulette Mastio Link to KRQE story and video: http://www.krqe.com/global/story.asp?s=8940078