Honolulu paramedic injured after alleged drunk driver hits ambulance

A Honolulu EMS paramedic was in the back of the ambulance when he sustained serious injuries in a crash while transporting a patient to the hospital

September 09, 2019 10:09 AM

Neither the patient nor the EMT driving the ambulance were injured in the crash.

HONOLULU — A 55-year-old paramedic suffered serious injuries early this morning when his ambulance — with lights and siren on — was broadsided by an alleged drunk driver while transporting a patient to a hospital, according to Dean Nakano, chief of the city’s Emergency Services Department.

The collision occurred around 2 a.m. near the intersection of Vineyard Boulevard and Punchbowl Street, which is near Queen’s Medical Center.

The injured paramedic is a 17-year EMS veteran, who was in the back of the ambulance with the patient, Nakano said. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Neither the patient nor the emergency medical technician who was driving the ambulance were injured.

The damaged ambulance had to be taken out of service and replaced by a backup vehicle.

“We are very thankful that there was no loss of life,” Nakano said in a statement. “Our personnel, like all first responders, risk their lives every day to provide the highest level of pre-hospital care to the residents and visitors here in Honolulu.”

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