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Report: NC EMS medic swerved, overturning ambulance

The accident sent three EMS workers to the hospital; ambulance loss estimated in the six-figure range

By Ryan Seals
News & Record

GREENSBORO, N.C. — An ambulance accident that sent three people to the hospital Tuesday happened as the driver overcorrected while changing lanes, according to a police report.

The driver of the ambulance, 22-year-old Benajamine Washburn, was driving in the left lane of northbound N.C. 68 at 12:17 p.m., the report said.

Washburn told investigating officers he started to merge into the right lane to exit at West Market Street, but saw a vehicle in his passenger-side mirror.

He swerved back into the left lane, drove into the median and the 9-foot-7-inch, 19,000-pound vehicle rolled over onto its roof.

Washburn and two other employees, Leonardo Tolentino, 28, and Candace Foust, 24, were taken to Moses Cone Hospital with minor injuries.

A hospital spokesman said Washburn was treated and released, while Tolentino and Foust requested that their status remain private.

No other cars were involved, and there were no patients on board the ambulance.

The accident report estimates the ambulance was traveling 50 mph in a 55 mph zone at the time of the incident.

The crew was conducting a training session at the time, according to Billy Livingston, operations manager for Guilford County Emergency Services.

He said Washburn is in the department’s training program and was recently hired.

Livingston said the ambulance will have to be removed from the department’s fleet and salvaged for parts. The loss was estimated in the six-figure range.

The county will conduct its own internal investigation of the accident, he said.

A police spokeswoman said the accident remains under investigation

She could not say whether charges would be filed.

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