Ambulance with patient on way to hospital involved in 3-vehicle rollover crash

Two medics, the patient in the ambulance and the drivers of a pickup truck and minivan were taken to local hospitals, said Sgt. Gordon Cairns, supervisor of the Dayton Police Department’s Traffic Services Unit. None of the injuries was life-threatening, he said.

The medics who suffered injuries in the crash maintained care of the patient in the ambulance and also immediately checked on the two drivers injured in the crash, according to a release from the Dayton Fire Department.

The crash closed the intersection, and a crash reconstruction team responded to the scene.

The ambulance had lights and an emergency tone activated while traveling south on South Smithville Road at an unknown rate of speed. At Patterson Road, the ambulance “failed to clear the intersection safely while going through the red traffic signal,” the report stated.

However, Cairns said Thursday it comes down to which vehicle had the right of way at the intersection.

The ambulance struck a beige 2003 Dodge Ram headed west through the green light on Patterson Road. The impact forced the pickup truck into a black 2012 Chrysler Town & Country minivan headed east on Patterson Road. The pickup then struck the curb and flipped into its left side, according to the report.

The driver of the pickup, 48-year-old Melissa Thurman of Kettering, was taken to Miami Valley Hospital with suspected serious injuries.

The minivan driver, 36-year-old Robert Hanks of Dayton also was taken to Miami Valley Hospital. His injuries were believed to be minor.

The medics and patient riding in the ambulance were not named in the crash report.

Haney said in general, when people see emergency vehicles, they should remember to go right for lights and sirens, and always use caution when approaching an intersection.

“If emergency vehicles are running light and sirens, just pull to the right, slow down, stop when you see them,” he said. “For everybody driving, when you come to an intersection, slow down and look both ways. Red lights or stop signs don’t always mean other cars are going to stop or slow down.”