Paramedic Driving Ambulance Ticketed in Fatal Crash
By: Alex Hinckley
Updated: February 8, 2011
The driver of a Rural Metro ambulance, 43 year-old Melissa Onderdonk, has been ticketed in a fatal accident that claimed the life of a patient being transported by the ambulance.
On Sunday afternoon, Onderdonk was heading north on South Winton Road, trying to make a left turn onto the on-ramp for 590/390 South when another car, headed south on South Winton Road and crashed into the ambulance.
The ambulance making a non-emergency transport, without lights and sirens, transporting Erwin Leonard, 82, from the Jewish Home to Strong Hospital for minor injuries related to an earlier fall. Leonard died at the hospital from injuries related to the crash.
The two people in the second car Edith Warner, 84, and Abe Levitt, 98 were seriously hurt and taken to Strong Hospital. Both are in satisfactory condition according to the patient information line at Strong Hospital.
Onderdonk was ticketed for failing to yield right of way.
In a statement, the Ambulance company said: "Rural/Metro Medical Services deeply regrets the loss of life from yesterday’s accident. We are cooperating fully with the investigation by the Brighton Police Department and New York State Police. Rural/Metro Medical Services is conducting an internal inquiry as well, which will include a full review of applicable company policies and the procedures used in this case. While the investigation continues, our ambulance crew members involved continue to recover from their injuries. Both crew members are dedicated professional first responders with many years of combined experience serving the public. Melissa and Dennis obviously have been personally affected by this tragedy along with our entire EMS staff."
On Sunday afternoon, Onderdonk was heading north on South Winton Road, trying to make a left turn onto the on-ramp for 590/390 South when another car, headed south on South Winton Road and crashed into the ambulance.
The ambulance making a non-emergency transport, without lights and sirens, transporting Erwin Leonard, 82, from the Jewish Home to Strong Hospital for minor injuries related to an earlier fall. Leonard died at the hospital from injuries related to the crash.
The two people in the second car Edith Warner, 84, and Abe Levitt, 98 were seriously hurt and taken to Strong Hospital. Both are in satisfactory condition according to the patient information line at Strong Hospital.
Onderdonk was ticketed for failing to yield right of way.
In a statement, the Ambulance company said: "Rural/Metro Medical Services deeply regrets the loss of life from yesterday’s accident. We are cooperating fully with the investigation by the Brighton Police Department and New York State Police. Rural/Metro Medical Services is conducting an internal inquiry as well, which will include a full review of applicable company policies and the procedures used in this case. While the investigation continues, our ambulance crew members involved continue to recover from their injuries. Both crew members are dedicated professional first responders with many years of combined experience serving the public. Melissa and Dennis obviously have been personally affected by this tragedy along with our entire EMS staff."
