VAN BUREN TWP. (WWJ) - Two paramedics were among those taken to local hospitals after a crash involving an ambulance in Wayne County.
It happened just after 1 p.m. Friday, according to Michigan State Police, at the intersection of Haggerty Rd. and Ecorse Roads in Van Buren Township.
A preliminary investigation by MSP troopers found that a Huron Valley Ambulance (HVA) was transporting a cardiac arrest patient to a hospital. Both paramedics were working on the patient so a Van Buren firefighter was driving the ambulance, according to MSP First Lt. Mike Shaw.
As the ambulance approached the intersection of Ecorse/Haggerty, Shaw said, the vehicle slowed to wait for traffic to clear before proceeding. Once within the intersection another motorist -- a 67-year-old woman in a minivan -- struck the ambulance, rolling the HVA onto its side.
A paramedic in the back suffered a critical head injury, Shaw said, and another paramedic was also hurt. The female driver was also taken to the hospital, he said, as was the heart attack patient who was in critical condition.
The crash remains under investigation.
"There was a semi truck that was also heading westbound on Ecorse that was kinda blocking the view," Shaw said. "So we'll take a look at it and see if it was possible that her vision was obstructed or not."
"The woman was definitely at fault in the crash as far as failing to yield for an emergency vehicle," he added, "but we're not sure if actual charged will be filed."
The intersection was closed for an investigation, but reopened at around 3:45 p.m.