The Lorain County Coroner confirmed at least one person has died after an ambulance-involved crash in Vermilion.
The crash happened around 1 p.m. on Thursday on Liberty Avenue near Helen Drive. Liberty Avenue shut down as a result of the crash, causing considerable traffic. The road has since been reopened.
According to Lt. Brett Gockstetter, North Central EMS was transporting a patient when the accident happened. Witnesses from behind the ambulance say the vehicle was driving erratically for a couple of miles, leading officials to believe the EMS driver may have suffered a medical condition. However, Ohio State Highway Patrol has not been able confirm the reason for the crash. It is still under investigation.
The ambulance drove off the right side of the road and overturned into a ravine.
Lt. Gockstetter said the patient being transported, David McNeil, 76, is now dead as a result of the crash. A nurse who was tending to the patient in the back of the ambulance was life-flighted to a Toledo hospital with serious injuries. The driver was taken to a local hospital.
The patient's wife was driving behind the ambulance at the time of the crash.
North Central EMS sent the following statement:
We want to express our deep sorrow about this tragic incident and sincere condolences to the patient’s family and those involved.
At this time, we are fully cooperating with authorities as they investigate the cause of this tragic accident.
Two North Central EMS employees were injured in the accident. One employee was taken to an area hospital and the other was transported by air to a Toledo facility. We do not have their conditions at this time.
