2 EMTs Hurt in Ambulance Crash; Power Outages Reported

Two emergency medical technicians from the Glen Echo Fire Department are in the hospital with serious injuries after their ambulance was in a crash on a snowy Interstate 495 early Sunday.

And the snow and strong winds brought down powers lines across Montgomery County. As of 7 p.m. Sunday, PEPCO said less than 400 customers remained without power.

Montgomery Community Media reports the ambulance was struck by another vehicle overnight while on duty at I-495 between River Road and I-270. The crash happened at about 12:15 a.m. on Feb. 15.

Maryland State Police say the injured EMTs are volunteers Thomas Schryver, 26, and Sydney Marshall, 19. Both were taken to Suburban Hospital.

The two EMTs were tending patients from an earlier crash on the right shoulder of the inner loop of I-495 at River Road, police say. The driver of a pickup truck -- Maximillano Curcho, 34, of Clarksburg -- lost control of his vehicle as he approached the crash scene. Police said the pickup skidded across two lanes of I-495 and onto the shoulder and hit a Toyota in the rear and both EMTs. The pickup then struck the ambulance.

The patients in the Toyota were transported to Medstar Hospital for treatment. It is not known if they sustained additional injuries in the second crash.

On his Twitter account, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer said both of the EMTs suffered serious injuries, but their prognosis is good.

Maryland State Police said no charges have been filed, pending the outcome of evidence analysis and the crash investigation. Anyone who saw the crash is asked to call 301-424-2101.

The roadway was snow covered when the crash occurred. Due to the investigation, the road remained closed for over five hours.