Two Fire Department emergency medical technicians miraculously escaped serious injury yesterday when their ambulance flipped over in a high-speed collision on Queens Boulevard.
EMTs Albert Pruden and Patricia Oliverio survived the crash with only minor injuries, said Patrick Bahnken, president of the EMS union.
“Any time you have a five-ton ambulance turn over, you’re going to have injuries,” Bahnken said.
“Queens Boulevard’s reputation as a hazard is clearly established,” he added. “This just points out the everyday hazards we face in EMS.”
Pruden and Oliverio were taken to Elmhurst Hospital, treated and released.
According to fire officials, the off-duty ambulance had a green light and was headed east on 69th Street at the intersection of Queens Boulevard at 10:40 a.m.
Suddenly, the ambulance was struck by a Dodge minivan traveling south on Queens Boulevard.
“The ambulance was going straight, it got hit in the rear corner panel and flipped over,” said Fire Department Capt. Howard Sickles.
The minivan also struck a green BMW waiting to turn from 69th Street onto Queens Boulevard.
The BMW driver and passenger were taken to St. Johns Hospital. None of the civilians involved in the accident was seriously hurt.