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OT: Thoughts & Prayers to Spotswood First Aid

RU4Real

RU4Real

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Jul 25, 2001
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A Spotswood ambulance on mutual aid response to an MVA in East Brunswick was struck at the intersection of Cranbury and Ryders this morning. One EMT was pronounced dead at the scene and another has been transported to RWJ in critical condition.

It's a dangerous job. Sometimes we're reminded of that in a very bad way.
 
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These vols do such wonderful work. I will keep these EMTs and their families in my prayers.
 
RAA-1 said:
These vols do such wonderful work. I will keep these EMTs and their families in my prayers.
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It's a minor point, but Spotswood EMS is paid.

They don't make much (less than a McDonald's fry cook in Seattle) and a lot of the younger members have multiple jobs to make ends meet.

The deceased was a 20 year-old female. Today was meant to be her last day on the job as she prepared to start med school in a few weeks.
 
RU4Real said:
It's a minor point, but Spotswood EMS is paid.

They don't make much (less than a McDonald's fry cook in Seattle) and a lot of the younger members have multiple jobs to make ends meet.

The deceased was a 20 year-old female. Today was meant to be her last day on the job as she prepared to start med school in a few weeks.
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Awful , thoughts and prayers to the families.
 
RU4Real said:
It's a minor point, but Spotswood EMS is paid.

They don't make much (less than a McDonald's fry cook in Seattle) and a lot of the younger members have multiple jobs to make ends meet.

The deceased was a 20 year-old female. Today was meant to be her last day on the job as she prepared to start med school in a few weeks.
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That's terrible. RIP
 
Update: It's been officially released that the Spotswood EMT killed this morning was Hinal Patel, of Piscataway. She was a recent graduate of Rutgers and was planning on continuing her education in the fall at RU in pursuit of either an MD or PA degree. Hinal was also a member of the North Stelton First Aid Squad, in Piscataway.
 
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RU4Real said:
A Spotswood ambulance on mutual aid response to an MVA in East Brunswick was struck at the intersection of Cranbury and Ryders this morning. One EMT was pronounced dead at the scene and another has been transported to RWJ in critical condition.

It's a dangerous job. Sometimes we're reminded of that in a very bad way.
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Wow. Prayers sent.
 
That intersection is right next to my late grandparents' property.

And that was her last day on the job?! Horrible luck. Thoughts and prayers for her family and friends.
 
As a former NJ volunteer EMT of 6yrs this particularly hits home. Thoughts and prayers to all involved.
 
Thoughts and prayers to her family.
That Intersection is about 3 miles from my house.
Very heavy traffic is the norm. No excuse why a motorist should not be yielding to an Ambulance / EMT vehicle.
 
You have an ambulance coming through an intersection with its lights flashing, and you can't stop to let it pass, and kill a first responder? What is so important? Sounds like a case of distracted driving, or someone who thinks they are too important for this world. I think jail time for vehicular homicide is called for in this case, even if it is a first offense.
 
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Here's the thing that we first learn in CEVO ("Coaching the Emergency Vehicle Operator") that makes things so challenging, especially in New Jersey.

While drivers are required by law to yield to emergency vehicles, the operator of an emergency vehicle - any emergency vehicle - enjoys no protection under the law for disobeying any portion of NJ Title 39.

Put simply - if you're going through a red light in an ambulance it is your responsibility as the driver to ensure that all traffic is clear before proceeding through the intersection.

If you get hit... it's YOUR fault, in the eyes of the law.
 
RU4Real said:
Here's the thing that we first learn in CEVO ("Coaching the Emergency Vehicle Operator") that makes things so challenging, especially in New Jersey.

While drivers are required by law to yield to emergency vehicles, the operator of an emergency vehicle - any emergency vehicle - enjoys no protection under the law for disobeying any portion of NJ Title 39.

Put simply - if you're going through a red light in an ambulance it is your responsibility as the driver to ensure that all traffic is clear before proceeding through the intersection.

If you get hit... it's YOUR fault, in the eyes of the law.
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Unbelievable, even after nearly 30 years of driving ambulances and fire apparatus. Never understand the driver in front of a fire apparatus with lights, sirens and air horns going who can't be bothered to pull to the side of the road. Everyone should think if it was there loved ones who needed the services of the responding vehicle, perhaps they would yield and allow the vehicle to pass.
 
Actually from what I recall from EMT training the only vehicle that is even permitted to break the speed limit is postal service. No emergency vehicles or cop vehicles are technically permitted by law to speed.
 
Blitz8RUCrazy said:
Actually from what I recall from EMT training the only vehicle that is even permitted to break the speed limit is postal service. No emergency vehicles or cop vehicles are technically permitted by law to speed.
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I think the postal service thing is an artifact, at this point. But otherwise, yes. Per my post above, no one is exempt from any part of Title 39 (New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Code, for those of you who don't have it memorized by now).

That's the additional burden of volunteer service in New Jersey - and one of the things that drives down the retention rate. Because while you, your partner, the medics, the cops and everyone else know that you absolutely have to get that cardiac patient from south Manalapan to Jersey Shore Medical Center in 12 minutes - and everyone expects that you will - if anything happens along the way you're gonna get f*cked for it because you're going 110 mph on Rt. 33 in a vehicle that weighs 13,800 lbs.
 
Very sad to hear about Hinal.

My youngest, a senior in HS, volunteers w/our local first aid squad. Also volunteers w/the local fire department. I'm proud and supportive. Can't say I don't worry about the dangers, one of which being traffic incidents.
 
RU4Real said:
Here's the thing that we first learn in CEVO ("Coaching the Emergency Vehicle Operator") that makes things so challenging, especially in New Jersey.

While drivers are required by law to yield to emergency vehicles, the operator of an emergency vehicle - any emergency vehicle - enjoys no protection under the law for disobeying any portion of NJ Title 39.

Put simply - if you're going through a red light in an ambulance it is your responsibility as the driver to ensure that all traffic is clear before proceeding through the intersection.

If you get hit... it's YOUR fault, in the eyes of the law.
Click to expand...
 
That's interesting. anyway, what a terribly sad story. The driver of the car is in very bad shape as well.
 
My condolences to the Patel family.

EB PD really needs to start cracking down on this road. There have been few fatalities in this area the last few years. Multiple intersections on a 2x2 roadway. Speed Limit is 45mph but since it is a 2x2 lane most Tavel at 55mph+. Time for EB PD to speed trap this road.
 
RU4Real said:
Here's the thing that we first learn in CEVO ("Coaching the Emergency Vehicle Operator") that makes things so challenging, especially in New Jersey.

While drivers are required by law to yield to emergency vehicles, the operator of an emergency vehicle - any emergency vehicle - enjoys no protection under the law for disobeying any portion of NJ Title 39.

Put simply - if you're going through a red light in an ambulance it is your responsibility as the driver to ensure that all traffic is clear before proceeding through the intersection.

If you get hit... it's YOUR fault, in the eyes of the law.
Click to expand...

NJ Law is lovely.
 
I got upset because she looks like the woman who paid for my coffee a couple years ago and got me thinking about paying it forward. I don't think it was her but very upsetting to see a beautiful young person with so much going on in their life to die like that. I can not imagine what her parents are going through.
 
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