Research notes on fatal ambulance accidents in North Carolina. Most involve collisions with other vehicles. Sources include newspapers.com, Digital North Carolina Newspapers, the Fayetteville Observer archives via News Bank, and numerous Google searches.
See source documents in this Google Drive.
2020 to 2024
February 13, 2024 – Cumberland County
Cape Fear Valley Medical Center ambulance collided with a Dodge Dakota pick-up truck on Butler Nursery Road near Nash Road just about 10:30 p.m. The ambulance was operating its emergency lights and travelling eastbound. It had slowed to make a left turn into residential driveway when the driver of the truck attempted to pass the emergency unit. The resulting collision caused the truck to leave the roadway and strike a tree. The 42 year-old female driver of the truck died at the hospital early the next morning. The two EMS members aboard the ambulance were not seriously injured. Two others riding in the truck sustained non-life threatening injuries. Investigators estimated that the truck was travelling 70 mph in a 45 mph zone. The accident happened less than two miles from the driver’s home. Source: Fayetteville Observer, 2/17/24; WRAL, 2/24/24.
August 3, 2023 – Pender County – Two Killed
Pender EMS & Fire ambulance collided with a 2010 Ford Edge SUV on US 117 near St. Helena around 2:00 p.m. The SUV crossed the center line and struck the ambulance head-on. Three other vehicles were also involved in the crash. The ambulance was transporting a 54 year-old female from Jacksonville to Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. The transported patient died at the scene. The driver of the SUV was hospitalized and died of her injuries on August 12. She had been charged with driving while impaired, and other drivers had reported her erratic driving just before the collision. The two EMS crew members were seriously injured. Source: Carolina Coast Online, 8/6/23; WWAY, 8/14/23.
April 25, 2023 – Johnston County
MedEx medical transport ambulance collided with a motorcycle on Barbour Road near Wilson’s Mills Road just before 4:52 p.m. The motorcycle crossed the centerline into the path of the emergency vehicle. The 35 year-old male motorcyclist was ejected and died from his injuries. Source: Johnston County Report, 4/26/23; WCNC, 4/26/23.
June 19, 2022 – Duplin County – Patient Killed After Exiting Ambulance
Womack Army Medical Center [correct?] ambulance was carrying a solider from Fort Bragg, who had become ill during a training exercise, and had been diverted from Womack to the Naval Hospital at Camp Lejeune, due to limited beds at Womack. There were two EMTs in the ambulance along with an Army Sergeant escorting the patient. The ambulance was traveling eastbound on I-40 near Warsaw. There was a struggle that started inside the back of the ambulance. The ambulance pulled onto the shoulder of the interstate and came to a stop. The 28-year old male patient jumped out the back door of the ambulance, ran toward US 117, and was struck by an oncoming vehicle on US 117, and died at the scene. He was pronounced dead at 3:47 a.m. Investigators believed that the patient’s exit from the ambulance was related to his medical condition. Source: News12, 6/23/22; WRAL, 6/23/22.
January 22, 2022 – Wake County – Cardiac Patient Died After Collision, During Transport By Second Ambulance
METZ medical transport ambulance crashed on Interstate 87 near Exit 13 near Knightdale Boulevard around 4:00 a.m. The ambulance hit a patch of black ice, left the roadway, and overturned down an embankment. It was transporting a cardiac patient to Duke University. The patient went into cardiac arrest while being transported from the crash site by a second ambulance and died at the hospital. The two ambulance workers were also hurt. Source: JEMS, 1/21/22.
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