Driver, Passenger Killed In Ambulance Crash On Southern State Parkway
LAKEVIEW, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) --The Southern State Parkway was finally reopened on Wednesday, after eastbound lanes experienced a 4-hour shut down due to a deadly crash.
The driver of an ambulance and a passenger were killed when the vehicle crashed into the wall of an overpass on the Southern State Parkway on Long Island, state police said.
The ambulance was heading eastbound on the Southern State when it veered off the highway and hit a brick wall near Exit 18 (Eagle Avenue) in Lakeview at 12:05 p.m. Wednesday.
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Video from the scene shows the front of the ambulance completely crushed, with its patient compartment perched precariously on an embankment.
The driver was killed instantly, 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reported. A passenger and an EMT were in the ambulance at the time of the crash. The passenger was killed, and the EMT is being treated for a broken leg and a concussion at Winthrop Hospital, state police said.
WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs reported no other vehicles were involved.
Police worked for hours to recreate the accident. It appeared that the ambulance lost control and hit a light pole before slamming into the bridge.
The vehicle was part of the Hunter Ambulance fleet, a private medical transport service. It had to be hoisted high above the bridge to clear the scene. Police didn't say where it was going, but said it was not traveling with lights and sirens.
Hunter Ambulance would not say if the driver was also an EMT as is normally the case, or if the ambulance was rushing the patient to a hospital.
Police have withheld the names of the victims until their families are notified.
