By EMS1 Staff
RIDGEWAY, Ohio — One EMT died and another is in serious condition after a vehicle struck the side of an ambulance Saturday night.
Cleveland.com reported that volunteer EMT Krista McDonald, who was also a dispatcher for the Bellefontaine Police Department, was driving for Southeast Hardin Ambulance District when a vehicle ran through a stop sign and hit the ambulance. McDonald was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene.
EMT Peggy Eastman was also ejected from the ambulance. She was transported to the hospital by helicopter in serious condition.
Officials said no patients were being transported at the time of the crash; the ambulance was returning from the scene of another crash.
The driver of the vehicle, Rachael Willeke, passenger Alexander Young and a child were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
“The Bellefontaine Police Department suffered a tragic loss tonight,” the department said. “Dispatcher McDonald volunteered for years as a paramedic and enjoyed her time helping others. Krista was an extremely talented, hardworking and dedicated public servant who gave her life doing what she loved to do.”