CFD Ambulance 89 involved in collision – update

Chicago Fire Department Ambulance 89 traffic crash 74th & Morgan

Fire department personnel look over the damage to Ambulance 89 this afternoon at 74th & Morgan. Tim Olk photo

An SUV collided with Chicago Ambulance 89 this afternoon at 74th & Morgan as the ambulance was en route to the hospital with a patient and two family members. Tim Olk photo

Six people were injured this afternoon including two Chicago EMTs when Chicago Ambulance 89 was involved in a collision with an SUV at 74th and Morgan. Both vehicles had extensive damage and the occupant of the SUV had to be extricated from the vehicle.

None of the injuries were considered life-threatening, but all six people were taken to area hospitals, officials said. Most of the victims were alert and talking to medical personnel at the scene, fire department spokesman Larry Langford said.

The basic life support ambulance carried five people when it collided with a vehicle in the 7400 block of Morgan Street about 2 p.m., Langford said. The ambulance had its lights and siren on at the time of the crash, he added.

One EMT drove the ambulance, while another was in the rear with a patient and two relatives, Langford said. He didn’t know what the patient’s malady was.

The Chicago Tribune has an article HERE with a scene photo.

Tim Olk was on the scene after the patients were removed and submitted several images. More images can be seen HERE.

Ambulance 89 sustained significant damage resulting from a collision with an SUV this afternoon. All occupants of the ambulance and the driver of the SUV were transported to various hospitals. None of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department Ambulance 83

The drivers side of the ambulance suffered the impact of the collision. Tim Olk photo

The SUV collided with the ambulance before coming to rest against a traffic light on the corner. The SUV required a 'door pop' to get the driver out. Tim Olk photo

This entry was posted on February 19, 2011, 5:32 PM and is filed under Fire Department News, MVA, Reader submission. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

#1 by CH on February 22, 2011 - 7:41 PM

Michael….Chicago runs about 15 BLS ambulances. This is due to the fact that their ALS ambulances are SO busy (most running in excess of 15 runs a shift). Upon recieving a 9-1-1 call, CFD dispatchers will ask about 15 medical questions…if a “yes” is answered to any of them, they’ll get an ALS response (normally ALS fire company and an ALS ambulance). But when the call is very minor, they use the BLS ambulances to free up the ALS ambulances.

#2 by Michael McGregor on February 21, 2011 - 8:46 AM

I have been working in EMS for about 18 years. I may not be correct, but if a patient is serious enough to warrant emergent transport, why is a BLS ambulance completing the transport? In our system 99% of emergency transports are by ALS units. I can say that I am not familiar with Chicago’s EMS plan. I have the utmost respect and hope all are OK, but just wondered. Thank you.