By Earl Holland
The Daily Times
Copyright 2008 The Daily Times
ANGOLA, Del. — A Georgetown man was killed and two emergency responders hospitalized after a Monday crash involving their ambulance in eastern Sussex County.
Around 6:15 a.m., a Milford Fire Company ambulance — coming back from a medical call from Beebe Medical Center in Lewes — was heading west on Beaver Dam Road when it stopped at an intersection at Indian Mission Road, according to Delaware State Police Cpl. Wes Barnett. Inside of the ambulance were Millsboro emergency medical technicians Frank Deford Jr., 32, of Seaford, Mercedes Berry, 47, of Ellendale and Sussex County paramedic John R. Schmitt, 41, of Lewes.
As the ambulance waited to make a left turn, a 1999 Jeep Cherokee driven by Michael Martin, 44, of Georgetown was heading south on Indian Mission Road when he misjudged a curve in the road, lost control of the truck and struck the right side of the emergency vehicle, Barnett said.
As a result of the crash, Martin suffered massive head injuries and died at the scene. Barnett said he was wearing a seat belt.
Berry — who was wearing a seat belt — suffered a minor back injury and was treated and released from Bebee Medical Center.
Deford suffered a head injury and Schmitt suffered multiple traumatic injuries after he was thrown from the back of the vehicle, Barnett said. It hasn’t been determined Monday whether Schmitt — a 15-year veteran of Sussex County Emergency Medical Services — was wearing a seat belt.
Deford was transported to Christiana Hospital by helicopter and was listed in stable condition Monday.
On Monday night, Schmitt — initially listed in serious but stable condition when he was admitted — was listed in critical but stable condition according to hospital officials.
The crash shook many of Schmitt’s co-workers Monday.
SCEMS Director Glenn Luedtke said the agency will help and support Schmitt and his family through this trying time but also emphasizes the potential dangers that EMTs face daily.
“Our staff and other public safety providers risk their lives every day to provide quality, compassionate and professional care,” he said. “Sometimes that risk catches up with you.”
Barnett said that alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash, and the accident scene was closed for almost six hours as members of the DSP Collision Reconstruction Unit examined the scene.