BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — An ambulance carrying a patient who was undergoing CPR crashed into a Caltrans vehicle on northbound Interstate 5, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Emergency crews were already responding to a fire involving an Amazon semi-truck near the escape ramp on Aug. 12, reducing northbound traffic to one lane, KBAK reported.
CHP officials said officers knew an ambulance was moving through the congested area while emergency personnel continued CPR on the patient inside.
As the ambulance reached the scene, it struck the rear of a Caltrans vehicle for reasons that remain unknown, according to CHP.
The Caltrans worker involved in the collision reported pain following the crash.
Authorities requested a medical helicopter for the ambulance patient. However, the patient was pronounced dead before the aircraft arrived, and the helicopter left the scene without transporting anyone.
Authorities have not released information about the medical emergency that initially required the patient’s ambulance transport.
