By J. Loewenstein
The Daily Review
TOWNADA, Pa. — A volunteer for the Eagles Mere Ambulance Association was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol after the ambulance he was driving crashed over the weekend while transporting a patient to a hospital, according to the state police and the Eagles Mere fire chief.
Two emergency medical technicians suffered minor injuries in the crash, according to the state police and Brian Smith, chief of the Eagles Mere Volunteer Fire Company.
John Huhn, 67, of Eagles Mere was driving the 2000 Ford 550 ambulance south on state Route 3007 in Shrewsbury Township at 9:30 p.m. Sunday when he failed to negotiate a left-hand curve in the roadway, according to the state police at Laporte.
The ambulance traveled off the western side of the roadway and into a ditch, state police said.
State police said they investigated the accident and determined that Huhn had been drinking alcohol prior to the crash.
Huhn, who was uninjured, was transported by police to the Laporte Medical Center, where blood was drawn was drawn to determine the presence of alcohol in his system, according to a press release that was issued Monday afternoon by the state police at Laporte.
Chief Smith said that at the time of the crash, the ambulance was transporting a patient — 45-year-old Kathleen Smith of Eagles Mere — from her home to Geisinger Medial Center in Danville.
Chief Smith declined to discuss why the ambulance was transporting her, other than to say that she “had been having some health problems.”
Kathleen Smith was not injured in the crash, state police said.
Two emergency medical technicians from Eagles Mere — Richard Schaefer, 70, and Lee Hays, 79, — suffered minor injuries, state police said.
Schaefer and Hays were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, police said.
Kathleen Smith’s mother, 77-year-old Mary Smith of Eagles Mere, was a passenger in the front seat of the ambulance and she was uninjured, authorities said. Mary Smith was wearing a seat belt, police said.
The ambulance sustained minor damage in the crash, state police said.
Following the crash, Kathleen Smith was transported by Muncy Valley Emergency Medical Services to Geisinger Medical Center, Brian Smith said.
Schaefer and Hays were transported by Laporte Emergency Medical Services to Muncy Valley Hospital for treatment of their injuries, Brian Smith said.
Chief Smith said the ambulance involved in the crash, which is the sole ambulance of the Eagles Mere Ambulance Association, is currently out of commission. He said he did not know yet when it will be back in service.
The area served by Eagles Mere Emergency Medical Services is currently being covered by Laporte and Muncy Valley emergency medical services, Chief Smith said.
Copyright 2009
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News