Medics Hurt in Vegas Ambulance Crash, Two Others Injured

Oct. 31--Four people, including two paramedics, were hospitalized today after an SUV and an ambulance responding to an emergency call collided in a southwest valley intersection, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.

The accident happened at 10:08 a.m. at the intersection of Blue Diamond Road and Durango Drive, Trooper Loy Hixson said. A Clark County Fire Department ambulance was headed west on Blue Diamond with its siren and emergency lights activated when it came to a red light at Durango, he said.

The ambulance slowed down before entering the intersection, and other vehicles stopped to let it through, Hixson said. The ambulance was almost clear of the intersection when a Chevy Tahoe headed south on Durango hit it on the right side, Hixson said.

Two paramedics on the ambulance were taken to University Medical Center with minor injuries, Hixson said.

A female passenger in the Tahoe was taken to UMC with serious injuries, and the male driver was transported with minor injuries, Hixson said.

Deputy Clark County Fire Chief Jeff Buchanan said all four patients were reported to be in stable condition.

The ambulance was responding to a report of fire at a home in a neighborhood a few blocks from where the crash occurred, Buchanan said.

An investigation of the crash is ongoing, Hixson said.

Durango was closed in both directions at the intersection, while one lane in either direction remained open on Blue Diamond, Hixson said. He said it would be about 1 p.m. before the intersection is open.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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