Three civilians were killed and at least two EMS providers were taken to an area hospital following a major collision in Prince George’s County, Maryland just after midnight Thursday, officials said.
Ambulance 826 from the District Heights station was responding when it was struck on the passenger side by a civilian vehicle. A photo posted on local forum site The Watch Desk shows the entire passenger side of the ambulance ripped open. Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department spokesman Mark Brady said the unit was responding to an overdose call when a GMC Suburban SUV struck the ambulance at a high rate of speed, reportedly traveling east bound in the west bound lane.
"The ambulance, with emergency lights on and siren sounding, had to swerve to avoid a head-on collision," Brady said. "The SUV side-swiped the ambulance and then hit a brick wall and utility pole before coming to rest on it’s roof about 120 feet from where it first struck the ambulance."
The three adult male occupants of the SUV that struck the ambulance were pronounced dead on the scene. The incident happened in the 5600 block of Marlboro Pike. Brady said the two Firefighter/Medics on board the ambulance were transported to an area Trauma Center for evaluation, but did not appear to sustain any serious injuries.
The Prince George’s County Police Department Accident Reconstruction Team are conducting the investigation.
JEMS.com will post additional information on this incident as it becomes available.
