By EMS1 Staff
KING GEORGE COUNTY, Va. — An EMS provider who was driving an ambulance at the time of a fatal crash was indicted by a grand jury.
WTVR reported that Westmoreland County Ambulance EMS provider William Watson was indicted for involuntary manslaughter and two counts of reckless driving in a Sept. 17 ambulance crash that resulted in the death of Rita Davis.
A whistleblower from inside the EMS agency, as well as several witnesses, said the ambulance’s lights were activated at the time of the crash, but the siren was not.
“Internally, I’ve heard firsthand that there were no sirens on, that the lights were activated, lights were on, but no sirens were on and the vehicle did not slow down or stop before entering the intersection,” the whistleblower said.
The whistleblower added that Watson should not have been driving without another EMS provider in the front of the ambulance with him.
“I do know that he had not been released by the department to drive yet. I don’t blame him for that, because he’s doing his job the best that he knows how,” the whistleblower said. “One of the two people in the back needed to be up there with him if he was going to be driving.”
Watson will be served with a warrant for his arrest, and will be brought before a magistrate.