Two people were injured and taken to area hospitals after a vehicle collided with an ambulance in south Sacramento on Thursday evening, a jarring crash that briefly turned an emergency response into its own emergency. The collision happened near Bruceville Road and Timberlake Way at about 6:30 p.m. One of those hurt was a medic, while the patient already in the ambulance was not injured. Police detained the driver of the other vehicle at the scene, and authorities described the injuries as minor.
According to FOX40, Sacramento police said the driver of the non-ambulance vehicle was taken to a hospital, and investigators suspect the driver was under the influence. The medic was transported for treatment, and the Sacramento Police Department is investigating the crash. Officers detained the driver at the scene, but have not yet announced any charges.
Ambulance crews face outsized roadway risk
Crashes involving emergency vehicles highlight a danger that paramedics and EMTs live with every shift. A study in Prehospital and Disaster Medicine found that transportation incidents are the leading cause of occupational fatalities among paramedicine clinicians, underscoring the hazards crews face while responding to calls and during patient transports.
Potential legal consequences
Because police say they suspect impairment, the driver could face charges under California DUI law, including Vehicle Code section 23152 for driving under the influence, as outlined by Justia. If prosecutors determine the crash caused bodily injury, they could also consider Vehicle Code section 23153 for DUI causing injury, according to Justia. Those statutes carry fines, license suspensions, and, in injury cases, potential felony exposure; the exact charges will depend on the outcome of the investigation and any chemical tests.
Sacramento police have not released the names of those involved. FOX40 first reported the collision on Thursday night, and authorities say the investigation is ongoing.
