An ambulance driver rushing to a house fire that claimed the life of his father last month has been charged with careless driving.
Joseph Sims Jr., 46, of the Erma section of Lower Township, was driving an ambulance to a fire Jan. 26 at the house where he was living with his parents. His father, Joseph Sims Sr., died in the fire.
While heading south on Route 9 toward the scene of the fire, the ambulance collided with a Chevrolet Trailblazer driven by Alyn Toth, 43, of the Burleigh section of Middle Township.
Sims has been charged with failing to exercise due caution when he chose to drive the ambulance after receiving potentially grave news regarding his parents. He was not driving the ambulance in an official capacity, an investigation by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office found.
Had Sims been responding to a fire without knowing his parents were involved, he may not have been charged, Middle Township police Chief Christopher Leusner said.
“It would have been very clear-cut if he had been responding in an official capacity,” Leusner said.
While the ambulance was traveling moderately above the speed limit, Sims’ speed was “not unreasonable” since the ambulance had its lights and sirens on, Leusner said.
Leusner said he could not reveal the speed of the vehicle since it would be part of the eventual hearing on the matter.
Sims is on administrative leave pending the outcome of the case. Leusner said he has been on leave since the accident.
Toth has been cited for careless driving for failing to exercise due caution when she re-entered the roadway to make a left turn onto Joffre Avenue from the right shoulder. She had pulled onto the right shoulder of Route 9 for another emergency vehicle that had just passed.
“She was (driving) one of many vehicles that had pulled over to the side of the road,” Leusner said.
Tickets were issued to Sims and Toth on Monday morning, Leusner said.
Toth was sent to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus in Atlantic City for treatment of serious injuries suffered in the accident. Leusner said she has long since been released.
No date has been set for a hearing regarding the accident, Leusner said. He said it also is possible that it could turn into a civil trial.
Contact Ben Leach:
609-463-6712
