North Carolina EMT Receives Probation in Fatal Ambulance Crash

“I hope someone can learn the easy way from my mistake."

That's what a tearful EMT Joseph D. Fancher had to say Tuesday before he was sentenced to probation in connection with an ambulance crash last year that left a teenager dead.

Fancher pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, according to StarNews.

The Oct. 3, 2011 crash in Shallotte killed Sarah Elizabeth Allen of Oak Island.

Judge Marion Warren sentenced Fancher to 45 days in jail, with 35 days suspended, 36 months’ probation and restitution of $9,660. He must also surrender his license for one year, not drive an emergency vehicle for the duration of his probation, and write a letter to the victim’s family, according to the reporter's account.

When the wreck happened on U.S. 17, Fancher was driving an Amera-Tech ambulance that was carrying a patient. However, it was not an emergency.

He ran the light at an intersection, and the ambulance slammed into Allen's Protege.

After the hearing he held his hands over his face and wept as he sat alone in the gallery.

Later, the EMT and father of four, told the reporter: “At the point where it turned yellow I knew I wasn’t going to be able to stop the ambulance in that short of time. And then the light turned red, and that’s when the collision occurred."

"The thing that I want people to know is that green doesn’t necessarily mean go. You can’t assume that at a green light you’re going to go through the intersection. And just because it turns green doesn’t mean that someone’s not going to come through there. So just slow down at intersections, and when you get the green light wait a second to see if anyone’s coming through because you never know.”