While delivering the Saturday newspaper, a news-carrier for The Times-Tribune was pinned beneath an ambulance in West Side after a Scranton man ran a red light and crashed into the vehicle, forcing it into her, police said.
Ryan Liberatore, 28, 425 16th Ave., ran a red light at Luzerne Street and South Main Avenue at 6:15 Saturday morning, police said, crashing his Mercury Sable into a Lackawanna Ambulance on its way to a call with its lights and sirens activated. The impact sent the ambulance over a curb and on top of Donna Evans, 41, of 412 S. 9th Ave.
Scranton Fire Department’s Rescue One crew responded to the scene and spent about 20 minutes using airbags and wooden planks to raise and support the ambulance until they had clearance to pull Ms. Evans from beneath the front driver’s side of the vehicle, Scranton Fire Capt. Paul Golden said. Ms. Evans was conscious throughout the rescue, Capt. Golden said.
Ms. Evans suffered a dislocated hip and lacerations to her leg as a result of the incident and was transported to the Intensive Care Unit at Community Medical Center, said Scranton Police Lt. Glen Thomas.
As of Monday morning, Ms. Evans was listed in satisfactory condition at the hospital, meaning her vital signs were stable and she was conscious and comfortable, said Wendy Wilson, a spokeswoman for CMC.
Mr. Liberatore was taken to CMC for minor injuries after the crash, said Lt. Thomas, while the ambulance’s driver and passenger were not injured.
Lt. Thomas said neither speed nor alcohol factored into the crash, though video from a nearby camera revealed Mr. Liberatore had run the red light.
He will be cited for failure to obey traffic signals and failure to yield the right of way to emergency vehicles, Lt. Thomas said.
