Friday March 29th, 2024 9:07AM

Patient injured when truck strikes Habersham ambulance

GAINESVILLE - A driver faces charges after colliding with a Habersham County ambulance that was transporting an emergency patient in Gainesville.

Trooper 1st Class Atwood of Georgia State Patrol Post 6 in Gainesville said the wreck happened around 9 p.m. Sunday on Georgia 369 (Jesse Jewell Parkway) at White Sulphur Road.

"The Habersham ambulance was traveling west on 369," Atwood said at the scene. "The [Ford F-150 pickup] was traveling south on White Sulphur and wanted to cross straight over 369. The Habersham EMS vehicle was going to the hospital running lights and siren - and they do both work on the vehicle now. The witness stated they were active at the time of the crash."

As the ambulance proceeded through the intersection toward Northeast Georgia Medical Center, "it was struck on the right rear tire and corner by the F-150," Atwood said. "The F-150 driver, which the report will reflect, stated that he proceeded through the green light. He did not hear any sirens and did not see any lights."

The Habersham ambulance came to rest on Jesse Jewell Parkway in the area of Taco Bell following the crash. The F-150 pickup truck remained in the intersection. Both vehicles were hauled from the scene.

Atwood said the only injuries as a result of the collision were to the patient already being transported in the back of the ambulance, and he classified those as "neck and back".

No one else in the ambulance was transported, nor was the driver of the pickup truck. A Hall County ambulance transported the patient from the scene of the wreck.

Atwood said the driver of the pickup truck was cited for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.

The pickup truck suffered disabling damage, and the ambulance suffered what Atwood termed "functional damage".

No names were released at the scene.

  • Associated Categories: Homepage, Local/State News
  • Associated Tags: Habersham Emergency Medical Services, Habersham County ambulance
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