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Second fatal crash at Back Bay intersection; two EMTs also injured
By adamg on Tue, 09/23/2014 - 1:42pm
Boston Police report the driver of a car that collided with a Boston ambulance at Beacon and Fairfield streets around 11:30 p.m. on Monday was taken to Boston Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead about 90 minutes later.
Two EMTs in the ambulance were also transported - in another ambulance, to Boston Medical Center - for treatment of minor injuries. They were on their way to a medical call, according to police and Boston EMS.
Police say the cause of the collision remains under investigation. The driver's name has not been released.
This is the same intersection where two people walking on the sidewalk died when hit by a car in June.
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Comments
Beacon & Fairfield?
The article does not mention which intersection it was. Considering the headline, leaving that fact out of the piece seems like a bit of bait and switch. Of course, clicking on the linked article will get you the info, but it still seems wrong.
Yes, Beacon and Fairfield
My apologies for leaving that out initially; was not intentional. Fixed.
Although they did not have a patient
on board, were the EMTs responding to an emergency medical call (as opposed to a routine patient transport)? If they were, that raises the question - were the lights and siren running (and by running, I mean on full, and not just a pathetic "blip blip every 1/2 mile or so)?
Boston EMS
I don't believe that Boston EMS is in the "routine patient transport" business - they run only emergency medical calls.
The patient, or the 911 caller, gets to determine whether the call is an emergency or not.
Am curious to know if sirens
Am curious to know if sirens/lights were functioning while ambulance was in route to their response. I understand that certain neighborhoods do not appreciate the "noise/lights" of emergency response vehicles. What about the hazard it proposes to other vehicles/pedestrians traveling on the same roads as opposed to those in their homes complaining about the "noise/lights"!
It's unfortunate that people were injured/killed in this crash,
but, aren't the drivers of other vehicles obligated to pull over for emergency vehicles (i. e. ambulances, police cars, fire engines) as soon as they see those lights flashing in their rear-view mirror? That's what I was taught when I was learning to drive. The minute one sees those lights flashing, or one sees an emergency vehicle going through the intersection (even if they've got the green light), they should get right the hell out of the way, or, in the event that they're in an intersection and an emergency vehicle is coming, to just simply let them go through, instead of trying to outsmart them.
In the case of a pedestrian, they're obligated to wait for an emergency vehicle to go through before crossing the street.
I heard the crash - live a
I heard the crash - live a block away & was working near an open window. There were definitely no sirens prior to the crash, but not sure about the lights. I'm very concerned as to the cause as this is the 2nd fatal accident at that same intersection in a few months. This is not generally a high-speed area, so I worry for my family traversing that intersection on foot, bike & car.
Despite the noise concern, emergency vehicles almost always turn on their sirens on Beacon St when approaching an intersection, particularly if they wouldn't normally have the right of way. But if proceeding through a green light, they usually just have the lights flashing.