Ocala, Florida — Emergency vehicles, including police, fire, and ambulances, respond to calls throughout the county every day. While some calls are ordinary, others include life-threatening situations.
Despite the many safety campaigns advertised by emergency personnel, citizens cannot seem to grasp the concept of yielding to emergency vehicles.
On Friday, January 23, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Rescue 24 with Marion County Fire Rescue was transporting a patient from an accident in Marion Oaks when they were involved in an accident on South Pine Avenue, Ocala.
Rescue 24 was crossing the intersection of South Pine Avenue and Southwest 10th Street — with lights and sirens activated — when a vehicle failed to stop at the intersection and “t-boned” the emergency vehicle.
The force of the collision caused Rescue 24 to flip onto its side.
In addition to the patient, two rescue workers were inside the vehicle. All three were transferred to a Ocala Regional Medical Center and are excepted to recover.
The driver of the vehicle that struck the emergency vehicle was ticketed.
Marion County Fire Rescue said they would like to thank Ocala Fire Rescue and the Ocala Police Department for their assistance at the crash scene.
Officials said, “As a reminder, all drivers are required to yield to emergency vehicles.”