A Nashville ambulance pulls into the path of an oncoming tractor trailer, and it’s all caught on camera.
Thankfully those involved in the crash early Tuesday morning will recover, but the incident is raising some serious questions.
It happened in a matter of seconds. A Nashville ambulance pulls away from the scene of an accident only to be involved in one of its own.
“We don’t know what happened at this point,” says Assistant Fire Chief Charles Shannon.
The Nashville Fire Department is still gathering facts, but the TDOT traffic camera near I-40 and White Bridge Road provides important clues.
Instead of traveling straight, the ambulance appears to turn into the right lane. The oncoming tractor trailer doesn’t have a chance to avoid it.
We’re told the EMT, paramedic, and patient on board were not badly hurt.
We asked the fire department about the video evidence.
“We haven’t had a chance to review it officially at this point,” says Shannon.
Upon closer examination you can see at least one person was aware a collision was coming.
As the semi approaches, a man begins to wave his arms, but by then it’s too late.
“The fire department will review the videotape, interview the ambulance driver and any witnesses, Chief Shannon says they will learn from what happened.
“If it’s something that maybe could be done a little bit different from a safety standpoint, than we will address it,” says Chief Shannon.
FOX 17 News also spoke to the police department about the crash.
The Sergeant on the scene says his officers had no idea the ambulance was about to make a 90 degree turn across traffic.
The fire department says its ambulances respond to nearly 200 calls a day and crashes are inevitable.
“But accidents do happen, and we’re not immune to them. They happen to us sometimes as well,” says Shannon.
It’ll take a few days for the investigation to be complete, and fire officials assure us they’ll take the findings seriously.
The Nashville Fire Department says EMT Chris Disknoski was driving the ambulance, and paramedic Jason Robbin was riding in the back.
The two first responders and the patient on board were all taken to the hospital.
Disknoski and Robbin were released.
There’s no word on the patient’s condition.
