Rebecca Sitzes
The Star, Shelby, N.C.
CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. — A 21-year-old man is dead after police say he lost control of his car and crashed into a Cleveland County ambulance Saturday morning.
According to Shelby Police, the ambulance was stopped at a light on Hamrick Street waiting to turn left onto U.S. 74 near the Chicken Ranch restaurant when a man lost control of his car.
Cameron Carpenter died as a result of the wreck.
“A vehicle was traveling eastbound on 74. The driver lost control of the vehicle, actually crossed the median, and we believe it to have gone airborne and struck an ambulance sitting stationary, waiting on the green light to turn left near the old Taco Bell,” said Lt. John Hamrick with the Shelby Police Department.
He said the Honda Accord overturned after striking the ambulance.
The eastbound lane of 74 was shut down for around two and a half hours as police investigated the wreck, and the debris was cleared from the road.
Hamrick said Carpenter was the only person in the car, and there were two paramedics in the ambulance.
The paramedics in the ambulance were taken to the hospital and released with minor injuries, according to Kerri Melton, assistant county manager.
“Our hearts go out to the family of the victim of this tragic accident,” Melton wrote in an email to The Star.
She said there were no further details at this time.
Hamrick said the wreck is still under investigation, and they do not yet know the speed of the car or what caused the Carpenter to lose control.
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©2020 The Star (Shelby, N.C.)