Sunday, April 15, 2012  A North Iowa man is facing more than a half dozen charges. He’s accused of attacking a woman at a grocery store. Authorities say not only did the man punch the woman he was with, but attacked others who tried to help including police and paramedics.Phillip Drozda of Northwood, IA has a criminal history including convictions of domestic assault and DUI. Authorities believe this latest incident which happened at Hy-Vee in Albert Lee also involved alcohol.

The 41 year-old was arrested last week after police say he hit a woman he was with at the service counter, then again several more times outside. Witnesses who tried to help were also attacked. Drozda ran off but was found by police outside Northbridge Mall. That's when they say he kicked officers and spit at a paramedic."The behavior continued down into the jail where he had to be restrained in a specially designed chair for people who are being combative," said Lt. Jeff Strom with the Albert Lea Police Department.

Nobody was seriously hurt in the attacks. Drozda is now facing roughly a half dozen charges including domestic abuse and assault of a police officer. 

Thursday, April 12, 2012  By Deborah Marko

VINELAND — Six people, including a 4-year-old child, were injured Tuesday afternoon when an ambulance and a Honda Accord collided at Delsea Drive and Sherman Avenue.

A Belleplain Emergency Corps ambulance crew was on a non-emergency transport to the nearby South Jersey Healthcare Regional Medical Center when the crash occurred just after 2 p.m., said William King, the corps’ assistant chief, who responded to the scene.

The two ambulance workers on board as well as their patient were taken to the hospital, King said, noting their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

The child and two other people in the Accord also were taken to the medical center. The child was later transferred to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, according to rescuers.

The emergency call initially came in as involving entrapment, but firefighters who responded to the scene said everyone was able to get out of the vehicles without their assistance.

The ambulance sustained damage to the front driver’s side, while the front of the Accord crumbled from the impact.

Drivers on Sherman Avenue were detoured by police. Traffic on Delsea Drive slowed to a crawl while police waited for tow trucks to remove the damaged vehicles.

The crash was under investigation by the police Tuesday evening.

Even with the turn lanes and the traffic lights, the intersection remains a dangerous one, said Jack Walker. The retired A-Estates employee was visiting his old office at the intersection Tuesday.




 When he was a kid, Walker said, you could walk across Sherman Avenue without looking — but those days are long gone with more drivers on the road.

Thursday, April 12, 2012  A Nicholas County man is in jail after allegedly stabbing an ambulance worker and then stealing the ambulance.

Sheriff's deputies say Frankie Stroup, Jr., 25, of Leivasy stabbed a Quinwood Ambulance EMS worker with a pair of scissors Tuesday. It's then alleged Stroup took off in the ambulance and drove a short distance on State Route 20 before wrecking it.

Stroup is being held in the Central Regional Jail on $20,000 bail. He's charged with malicious wounding, grand larceny and felony destruction of property.

The injured ambulance worker is identified as Ryan Sparks, 23, of Richwood.

 

Thursday, April 12, 2012  By Kristine Guerra

A collision on the Indianapolis' Southwestside between a Decatur Township Fire Department ambulance and a van sent three people the hospital.

About 8 a.m. today, an ambulance responding to an emergency was traveling north on Foltz Street when it collided with an eastbound van on West Mooresvlle Road. After the collision, the ambulance continued north and crashed into an outbuilding used as a classroom of the First General Baptist Church, located at Foltz Street and West Mooresville Road.



Two Decatur Township firefighters and the driver of the van were transported to Methodist Hospital. Decatur Township Fire Chief Dale Henson said the firefighters sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The names of those hurt were not immediately available.



The outbuilding, a garage, was also being used as a temporary classroom. Cost of the damage to the church was being determined.



The church is across the street from Stephen Decatur Elementary School.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012  An ambulance and car collided in the intersection of Delsea Drive and Sherman Avenue in Vineland around 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 10.  

Wednesday, April 11, 2012  By Jason Laday

VINELAND — A motor vehicle accident involving a Belleplain ambulance near South Jersey Healthcare-Regional Medical Center sent multiple people to the hospital Tuesday afternoon, although it remained unclear throughout the evening how serious their injuries were.

According to Vineland police and fire officials, a Belleplain ambulance and a Honda Accord collided at the intersection of West Sherman Avenue and Delsea Drive.

Neither police nor fire representatives could confirm if the ambulance had been transporting a patient. 

However, Vineland Fire Lt. Tony Saltar stated the vehicle’s emergency lights had been activated when officials arrived at the scene.

“There was a driver and a passenger in the ambulance — both (Belleplain) employees, one in the driver’s seat and the other in the back, just like their supposed to when transporting a patient,” said Saltar. 

“There wasn’t any patient there by the time (the fire department) got there, but if there wasn’t a patient, I think the passenger would have been up front.”

The Honda was registered to a man, according to officials. 

An eyewitness said that as he drove by the scene, apparent off-duty EMS personnel were converging on the scene in private cars.

A woman ran to the scene from Wawa and a man did the same from a parking lot across the street.

Upon passing the accident, a man was lying face down on the highway next to the Honda’s front door.

No other information was available on the owner of the vehicle Tuesday night.

Saltar stated that both the ambulance driver and passenger, as well as the driver and a passenger in the Honda were all taken to South Jersey Healthcare-Regional Medical Center.

Vineland police stated one of those taken to the hospital was a juvenile, aged 5 or 6.
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Wednesday, April 11, 2012  Yellowknife, N.W.T. - A 29-year-old man from British Columbia is facing several assault-related charges for his alleged role in attacking two police officers and a paramedic last Thursday.

Police responded to the Air Tindi float plane base in Old Town after receiving a report of a disoriented and agitated man who allegedly assaulted a paramedic.

When police arrived, the man apparently assaulted an officer who was trying to apprehend him, but Constable Kathy Law said he wasn't done there.

"He was then transported back to Yellowknife detachment to be processed and again assaulted another police officer while he was exiting the police vehicle."

Law said the man allegedly kicked the officer in question.

She also said the suspect has been released until his date in territorial court.

"He was released from police custody to Stanton Territorial Hospital on the day following the assault on April 6th, 2012 and his next court appearance will be on June 5th."

The apprehending officer was treated for non-life threatening injuries at Stanton Hospital, while the other officer and paramedic sustained minor injuries and did not require medical attention.

 

Tuesday, April 10, 2012  By Jhunnex Napallacan

CEBU CITY, Philippines—A Singapore-based Filipino nurse died while eight others were injured when a pickup truck, driven by a man who tested positive for alcohol, hit an ambulance taking a patient to the airport for a flight to Singapore early Tuesday, police said.

The nurse, Trecie Abaño, 44, a native of Bislig, Surigao del Sur, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Chong Hua Hospital.

The other persons who were rushed to the Chong Hua Hospital  were identified as ambulance driver Juan Cabigas, 38, of Barangay Labangon, Cebu City, patient Michael Jasmin, 37, of San Diego, California,  and the other people in the ambulance—Mahsee Choong, Milan Lester Ningaska, Roy Jumao-as and Datukon Sayyio.

The victims sustained scratches and bruises in the different parts of the body. Choong was released from the hospital but the others were confined.

Jasmin was admitted to the intensive care unit, but it was not immediately clear if it was due to injuries suffered in the accident or because  of an existing condition aggravated by the accident.

The driver of the Toyota Hilux pick-up, Noel Anthony Logarta, 20, of Mountain View Village, Pardo, Cebu City, and his unidentified companion sustained only minor injuries, police said.

P02 Edgar Becoy of the Cebu City Traffic Division said Abaño was escorting Jasmin, who was being taken from Chong Hua Hospital to the Mactan Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City at 12:20 a.m. for a  flight to Singapore.

The ambulance was cruising on M.J. Cuenco Avenue but when it reached the corner of Juan Luna Avenue, a speeding Toyota Hilux pick-up with plate number YHK 500 that was crossing the intersection hit the left rear portion of the ambulance, causing it to overturn, Becoy said.

The Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation  responded to the accident and took Abaño, Jasmin and their five other occupants of the ambulance to the hospital, he said.

Logarta was taken to the Cebu City Medical Center where he was found positive for alcohol in a liquor test, Becoy said.

Becoy said Logarta, who came from Cebu IT Park in Barangay Apas, claimed he was driving at 50 to 60 kilometers per hour at the time. Since the traffic light was flashing, Logarta told investigators, he proceeded to cross the intersection when the ambulance suddenly appeared and he accidentally hit it, according to Becoy.

A flashing red or orange light is a signal for a vehicle to come to a full stop at an intersection and allow a vehicle with right of way to cross first.

Becoy said a nephew of Abaño vowed to file charges against Logarta, who  faces a charge of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and multiple physical injuries with damage to property.

A taxicab was also reportedly damaged after being hit by the pick-up. 

Tuesday, April 10, 2012  ERIN MATHEWS
The driver of a City of Miltonvale ambulance was cited for running a red stoplight without having the ambulance’s siren activated Saturday, resulting in a collision at the intersection of Crawford Street and Centennial Road.
The ambulance was transporting a patient to Salina Regional Health Center from Miltonvale with non-life-threatening injuries when the collision occurred, causing the ambulance to spin and roll over on its side at about 12:30 p.m. Saturday, according to a Salina Police Department report.
Richard M. Pepple, 41, who was driving the ambulance; Calvin W. Schultz, 61, who was assisting with the patient; and Sandra K. Girard, 57, the patient, all of Miltonvale, were treated at the Salina hospital following the crash, a hospital spokesman said.

For more on this story, see Tuesday's Salina Journal.  

Tuesday, April 10, 2012  Emergency crews were sent to a crash involving an ambulance Monday afternoon.

The crash happened near 102nd Street and West Maple Road around 2:30 p.m.

Officials said an ambulance with its lights and sirens activated was struck by a car.

The car had a green light at the intersection.

No one was hurt in the collision.

It's unclear whether the driver of the car will be ticketed.

 

Tuesday, April 10, 2012  By Travis Andersen, Globe Staff



Twelve people were evacuated from a South End apartment building and four Boston police officers and an ambulance crew were taken to a hospital after a woman committed suicide Monday night inside an apartment by ingesting a toxic chemical, fire officials said.

Boston Deputy Fire Chief Steve Dunbar said at the hazmat scene that the woman ingested the chemical on the first floor of 676 Mass. Ave. at about 9 p.m. and was later pronounced dead at Boston Medical Center.

He said four police officers and the ambulance team of two EMS workers were being quarantined at BMC to determine whether they were affected by the substance.

Dunbar said a relative of the woman, whose name and age he did not know, reported that the victim told her she ingested a chemical and asked that her cats be taken care of.

The deputy fire chief said the victim appeared to be young, but he could not be more specific.

He said the woman is believed to have ingested sodium azide, a chemical used to make airbags. “But it can metabolize into some kind of cyanide,” Dunbar said, adding that the woman died about an hour or two after ingesting the substance.

He said at about 12:20 a.m. Tuesday that crews were preparing to reenter the apartment building to see if it presented a safety risk, a process expected to take a few hours.

Dunbar also said the officers and EMS workers who were quarantined did not appear to be showing signs of being adversely affected by the chemical.

Travis Andersen can be reached at tandersen@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe.

Monday, April 9, 2012  VAN BUREN - Van Buren Ambulance Service is mourning the loss of one of their own. Peter Carbonneau, Paramedic, died in the line of duty last evening. The 51-year-old paramedic was working for the town of Van Buren Ambulance Service when he succumbed to illness while completing his duties at the station. Despite the efforts of fellow EMS personnel, Peter Carbonneau was pronounced dead at Cary medical Center.

"People that knew Peter are all taking it very hard. Going to be taking it hard for a long time," fellow providers stated.

Peter started volunteering at the Van Buren Ambulance in 1984 at the age of 24. He has served in many different capacities throughout the years, including Assistant Director and later Director of the service. He also previously worked as a Paramedic for Madawaska Ambulance Service. In addition to his service to the Town of Van Buren as a Paramedic, he dedicated 24 years as a volunteer firefighter for the Van Buren Fire Department. He also served on various boards for the town, most recently as Chairman of MSAD 24's school board.

He was dedicated to his family, friends and community.

"Everybody loved Peter."

The outpouring of support and sympathies in the hours since his death is a testament to the person he was. His impact on the community reaches far beyond those he served directly.

The example he set and the lessons he imparted to others will continue to have a positive impact on the people of the St. John Valley and EMS community. He will be missed by many throughout the Valley and EMS community. 

Monday, April 9, 2012  By MICHAEL STRAND

Salina Journal

Ed Dumas and Brad Rongish were sitting in Dumas' pickup in the left-turn lane waiting to turn off of Crawford onto Centennial shortly after noon Saturday when an ambulance got T-boned in the intersection, flipped on its side and slid toward them.

"It was coming right at us -- there was no place to go," Dumas said shortly afterwards. "There was a car behind me, so I couldn't back up."

"There was really no time for words," Rongish said. "We just braced for impact."

The Miltonvale ambulance came to a stop less than three feet from Dumas' truck.

"The guy in the passenger seat was knocked out," Dumas said. "Several of us tried to get the door open and get the people out."

Several witnesses said the ambulance, which was eastbound on Crawford, had its lights on -- but not the siren -- as it went through the red light, and that it was hit on the driver's side by a white SUV that had the green light and was headed south.

The ambulance passenger and two EMTs were taken by ambulance to Salina Regional Health Center; their names and conditions were yet available.



-- Reporter Mike Strand can be reached at 822-1418 or by email at mstrand@salina.com.

 

Monday, April 9, 2012  By Molly Hottle

A 25-year-old employee of the Metro West Ambulance service was badly hurt in an explosion Sunday morning in Hillsboro. 

Eric Nehl of Scappoose was filling oxygen tanks in a garage at the service's headquarters, 6475 N.E. Dawson Creek Drive, at 8 a.m. when a malfunctioning valve caused an explosion and fire, company spokeswoman Erin Miller said. 

Nehl suffered first- and second-degree burns, said his father, Steve Nehl, a former photographer at The Oregonian. Eric Nehl was in the intensive care unit at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. 

"It's pretty much going to be 24 to 48 hours before we're going to know what his prognosis is," Steve Nehl said. "He looks terrible. He's all bandaged up." 

Eric Nehl was on duty and working alone when the explosion occurred. His dad said he apparently suffered flash burns and that doctors are trying to determine whether his lungs were damaged. 

"It was a horrible phone call we got this morning," Steve Nehl said. "We're just hoping for the best." 

Eric Nehl is also a volunteer firefighter with the Scappoose Fire District and a single dad with a daughter. Miller said Metro West is launching an investigation. 

This isn't the first time Eric Nehl has been in a serious accident. 

When he was 2, in December 1988, he was riding with his mom, Elizabeth, and older brother, Brian, when a concrete truck overturned onto their pickup on Dosch Road in Portland. 

Steve Nehl, unaware who was involved, was sent by The Oregonian to take photographs. He said at the time that it was his worst nightmare: 

"I knew my wife and family were going to visit some friends out near there and that was a route we take sometimes," he said, according to a story in The Oregonian. "I looked at my watch and knew it was about 2 and said, 'Nah, that can't be. It would be closer to 3 when they'd leave.'" 

He arrived to find rescuers using equipment to pry the pickup door open, his family trapped inside. Rescuers had draped his family with a tarp to protect them from glass, but Nehl feared the worst. 
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