Friday, March 16, 2012

** Ohio paramedic killed in collision with lumber truck

** Quebec paramedic in head-on smash in critical but stable condition

UNITED STATES NEWS

** An Ohio paramedic is dead after a Wednesday collision with a lumber truck in Chillicothe. The Coshocton Tribune (March 15) said Cody A. King, 21, was behind the wheel of the ambulance around 10 a.m. when he hit the flatbed at an intersection. The lumber from the truck then plowed into the ambulance’s windshield, moving halfway into the EMS unit. Along with Life Ambulance responder King, patient Barbara McWhorter, 72, was also killed. Both died at the scene. The driver of the truck, meanwhile, escaped serious injury. The ambulance was not running lights and sirens at the time, but was en route to a medical appointment.

CANADA NEWS

** A Gatineau, Quebec paramedic, injured in a Wednesday evening ambulance crash, has undergone emergency surgery. That is the word from the Ottawa Citizen (March 15) which said Matthieu Danis, 26, remains in critical but stable condition in hospital. According to the newspaper, Danis suffered both head trauma and broken bones following the 5:30 a.m. head-on with a pickup truck. He was in the passenger seat at the time. There were no patients on board as the unit was on roving deployment. Danis’ 28-year-old partner was also injured in the mishap. He was treated at hospital and has since been released.