AURORA, IL- The chicagotribune.com reports that 10 or more people were taken to the hospital following a collision between an ambulance and a minivan. The accident occurred at the intersection of West Street and Galena Boulevard.
The Ambulance, which was from the Aurora Fire Department, was transporting a patient when it struck the minivan which was traveling on West through the intersection. The ambulance was using its lights and sirens at the time of the crash.
A man was driving the minivan with seven passengers. The passengers included a 27-year-old woman, twin 1-year-old boys, and several other children, aged 4, 6, 12 and 13.
Two of the children were transferred to Chicago for treatment of severe head wounds.
The occupants of the ambulance, including two paramedics from the Aurora Fire Department and the patient ,all suffered injuries that were not life-threatening.
The crash closed both roads as well as some side streets for about 4 hours.
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are about 29 fatal collisions involving ambulances every year in the United States. About a quarter of those killed were either patients or paramedics in the ambulances. The vast majority of people killed are occupants of other vehicles.
Another 1,500 ambulance crashes cause injuries annually. More than half of the people injured are occupants of other vehicles as well.
Emergency medical responders often put themselves at risk of being seriously hurt in an accident because in a shocking 84% of them fail to use their safety belts while transporting patients. While they do a better job of fastening in patients, more often than not, they only used the lateral belts when they could have used shoulder straps as well.
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