TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— Terre Haute Police Department has released a lengthy statement about its investigation into an April 15 ambulance wreck that left one girl dead and sent another to a hospital.
“While the investigation remains ongoing, we are releasing several verified facts in an effort to provide clarity, address community concerns, and combat the spread of misinformation,” they wrote in a statement.
They added that at 7:15 p.m., Trans-Care was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident. As the ambulance headed to the scene they had their emergency lights activated, according to the statement.
“As the ambulance entered the intersection of South 13th Street and Wheeler Avenue, where there is no stop sign for southbound traffic, it was struck on the driver’s side by an electric bicycle occupied by two juveniles,” officials wrote. “The juveniles were traveling westbound through a posted stop sign on Wheeler Avenue.”
The post states that Trans-Care staff, along with the assistance of the Terre Haute Police Department and the Terre Haute Fire Department, who responded minutes later, rendered aid to the two girls and requested additional emergency response. Both girls were then taken to local hospitals, where one later died from their injuries and the other was life-lined to an Indianapolis-area hospital, where they are still receiving care.
“Trans-Care staff have been fully cooperative with the investigation. The ambulance driver voluntarily submitted to toxicology screening immediately following the incident and Trans-Care has released their dash cam video for the investigation,” police wrote. “Trans-Care vehicle speeds have been determined to be between 37.4 mph and 40 mph at the time of the collision, with 37.4 mph calculated by THPD Accident Reconstructionist and 40 mph recorded by the ambulance’s onboard video system.”
Investigators verified this information in multiple ways, THPD wrote.
“These details have been confirmed through dash camera footage, security camera footage, advanced accident reconstruction techniques, and statements provided by those involved,” the statement reads. “This incident is a heartbreaking tragedy. Our thoughts remain with the families affected, and we ask for the community’s continued support and patience as the investigation moves forward.”
