Special Crash Investigations: On-Site Ambulance Crash Investigation Vehicle: 2004 Ford E-350 Type III Ambulance Location: Colorado Crash Date: April 2016

The crash occurred in April 2016 on a two-lane divided east/west interstate highway in Colorado. The Ford ambulance was being driven westbound in the second lane from the right by a belted 23-year-old female emergency medical technician (EMT). The patient compartment was occupied by an unbelted 53-year-old female EMT and a 57-year-old female patient who was restrained on an ambulance cot. Conditions were dark with no streetlights present and it was snowing at the time of the crash. The asphalt roadway was straight, level, and slush covered. The driver lost control of the Ford due to the roadway conditions, the vehicle departed the roadway on the left edge, and entered the grassy center median. The vehicle began a counterclockwise rotation that was followed by a right side leading trip rollover. The Ford rolled five quarter turns before coming to rest on its right side. During the crash, the ambulance cot separated from its fastening system and the cot and patient were displaced inside the rear compartment. The patient was fatally injured. The driver sustained police-reported “B” (evident non-incapacitating) injuries and was transported by ambulance to an area hospital. The rear compartment EMT sustained “A” (evident - incapacitating) injuries and was transported by ambulance to an area hospital. The Ford was towed from the scene and placed on a police hold.

• Record URL:
  • https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812830
• Corporate Authors:

  Dynamic Science, Incorporated

  Mission Viejo, CA  United States  92692

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Publication Date: 2019-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: 18p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Ambulances; Crash investigation; Crash investigation sites; Emergency medical technicians; Fatalities; Highway safety; Rollover crashes; Traffic crashes
• Identifier Terms: Ford E-350
• Geographic Terms: Colorado
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01720832
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT HS 812 830, Case No. DS16010
• Contract Numbers: DTNH22-12-C00271
• Files: HSL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 29 2019 9:32AM