Two people died and a paramedic is in critical condition after a three-vehicle crash involving a Louisiana ambulance that claimed the lives of its colleague and a patient being transported to the hospital, authorities reported.
The Louisiana State Police identified the two victims of the accident in Pointe Coupee Parish as 28-year-old Kymber Nezat and 82-year-old Albert Bordelon, according to a police statement on Facebook on Tuesday.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Nezat, who was driving the ambulance, was traveling northbound on Louisiana Highway 1 behind a Nissan Altima when it rear-ended the Altima, causing the ambulance to enter the southbound lane and collide head-on with a Kenworth tractor-trailer.
"Despite being properly restrained, both Nezat and Bordelon (who was being transported) succumbed to their injuries at the scene of the accident," the Louisiana State Police said in the statement. "A second rear passenger of the Sprinter ambulance was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries as a result of the crash."
The other occupants suffered moderate injuries, according to the police.
"Standard toxicology samples were collected from all drivers, which will be sent for scientific analysis," the police said.
The paramedic's mother requests prayers
Hunter Fruge, the paramedic inside the ambulance, was taken to a hospital in Baton Rouge and is in critical condition, reported local news station WAFB.
Fruge's mother asked for prayers for her son in a social media post on Tuesday, as reported by the station. "Pray with unwavering strength," the post said.
Acadian Ambulance confirmed that one of their ambulances was involved in the accident and that there were two fatalities.
"We are cooperating with law enforcement authorities investigating the scene and have no further information to disclose at this time," Acadian Ambulance said in a statement on Facebook on Tuesday.
The accident is under investigation.
Originally posted at Abogados de Choques
