Ambulance Collides With Truck Of Patient's Father: Newtown PD

NEWTOWN, CT — A Danbury Hospital ambulance collided with a truck driven by the father of a juvenile patient the ambulance was en route to treating in Newtown on Wednesday, according to police.

No injuries were reported in the 3:45 p.m. crash, which occurred in the rear parking lot at Newtown High School on Berkshire Road.

The boy had suffered a "syncopal episode," Newtown police said, which prompted the emergency medical call.

The ambulance driver had not activated the vehicle's emergency lights as it was arriving, at which time a coach flagged the ambulance down to tell the driver to go in a different direction, police said.

"[The ambulance driver] stopped his car, put his car in reverse to allow him to turn and drive down the rear access road," police said. [The ambulance driver] stated that he looked behind him and did not see any vehicles. [The ambulance driver] stated that while backing he heard and felt an impact. At the same time, he heard a vehicle horn."

That horn was from the father of the boy, who was arriving at the scene in his Ram pickup truck.

"[The father] stated that as he came up the hill into the rear parking lot he observed vehicle #1 backing," police said. "He stated that he stopped his vehicle, hit his horn, but vehicle #1 continued in reverse and stuck the front bumper / tow hook of his truck."

Both vehicles received minor damage, but police said "no enforcement action taken."