A medic from Lower Kiski Ambulance Service was seriously injured when the ambulance she was in crashed Wednesday near The Waterworks mall in Pittsburgh.
According to a spokeswoman for Pittsburgh Public Safety, the crash was reported around 4 a.m. along Freeport Road near the strip mall and Walnut Grill restaurant. The medic, who was helping to transport a patient to UPMC St. Margaret hospital, was in the back of the ambulance and not wearing a seat belt.
Authorities did not identify the medic.
She suffered head and facial injuries and initially was unresponsive. She was transported by Pittsburgh EMS to the hospital in critical condition and was being treated Wednesday in intensive care, according to public safety spokesperson Emily Bourne.
Neither the ambulance driver nor the patient reported injuries in the crash, though the patient was taken to the hospital as intended prior to the crash.
Reports show the ambulance crossed the center line of Freeport Road and struck a guardrail on the other side of the road. The driver indicated he was trying to avoid a deer, Bourne said.
Pittsburgh police are investigating. Freeport Road was closed for a time but reopened around 6 a.m., according to public safety.
A spokeswoman from Lower Kiski Ambulance refused to comment other than to confirm the incident is under investigation.
Based in Leechburg, the ambulance company serves Allegheny Township, Hyde Park, Gilpin, Leechburg and West Leechburg.
