A Thomaston ambulance needs a replacement of glass within the driver’s side mirror after being clipped by a vehicle passing in the opposite direction.

On Thursday, Dec. 22, just prior to 6:30 p.m., the ambulance was transporting a patient to the hospital, non-emergency, following a three-vehicle crash at the intersection of High Street and Route 1, in Thomaston.

As the ambulance drove along Old County Road across the Rockland town line, a vehicle traveling southbound ended up close enough to the rig that it made contact with the mirror.

Only minor damage resulted from the impact, and the private vehicle reportedly activated its brake lights before continuing on, possibly under the assumption that since the ambulance didn’t stop, then there wasn’t an issue worth stopping for.

In fact, the crew would have stopped if they didn’t have a patient in the back.

“The department always takes caution when any incident happens and evaluates when we can continue or when we need to request for mutual aid assistance,” said Thomaston EMS Chief Amy D. Drinkwater.

Thomaston EMS immediately reported the incident to Rockland police.

Under Title 29-A, Section 2251 regarding accident reports, a reportable accident must be reported immediately by the quickest means of communication to a law enforcement agency in the municipality in which the accident occurred.

The accident must be reported by either:  

- The operator of an involved vehicle;   
- A person acting for the operator; or  
- If the operator is unknown, the owner of an involved vehicle having knowledge of the accident.

At this time, Rockland police have not located the private vehicle involved in the Dec. 22 incident.

Current statistics are not yet available regarding crashes involving ambulances. However, a National Highway Transportation Safety Administration assessment concluded that between 1992-2011 (20 years), there was an annual estimated average of 4,500 motor vehicle traffic crashes involving an ambulance. Of these crashes: 65% resulted in property damage (only), 34% resulted in an injury/injuries, <1% resulted in a fatality/fatalities.

*Injuries and fatalities include occupants in all cars involved in a traffic crash involving an ambulance.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com