Ambulance flips on way to emergency

Two emergency workers were able to walk away from the crash of an Upstate Carolina Medical Center Ambulance on Monday morning with only minor injuries. The crash occurred at about 8:55 a.m. on Green River Road, about a mile south of the Interstate 85 junction. The ambulance was headed to an emergency medical call when the crash occurred. It wasn't carrying any patients. Carolina Collision of Gaffney was called to tow the vehicle. The first order of business for the tow truck operators was to get the flipped ambulance upright. An ambulance crew en route to a medical emergency found themselves in the middle of an emergency of their own Monday morning when their ambulance flipped on Green River Road.

While the circumstances of the crash still are under investigation, South Carolina Highway Patrol spokesman Lance Cpl. Jeff Gaskin said the ambulance was headed north on Green River Road when the driver lost control and went off the left side of the road before overturning. The speed limit on the road is 45 mph, Gaskin said.

Both the driver, EMT Bryan P. Clohosey, 34, of Spartanburg, and a passenger, paramedic Christina Johannes, 23, of Boiling Springs, were wearing seat belts and were able to walk away from the crash. Both were transported to Upstate Carolina Medical Center to be checked out, however.

"Everybody was evaluated and came out with minor injuries," said Mitch Stewart, director of emergency medical services at Upstate Carolina Medical Center.

Stewart said the emergency workers were given the remainder of their 24-hour work shift off. Both will be back at work for their next scheduled shift on Thursday, Stewart said.

While ambulances and fire trucks are common scenes at wreck sites, seeing them surround a mangled ambulance is another matter.

"It makes it a little more of a challenge and stressful," Stewart said. "Thankfully the injuries were minor. It could have been worse."

The Upstate Carolina Medical Center ambulance involved in the wreck was based out of substation that services the Macedonia and Grassy Pond communities. Its designation is Medic 2.

There were no patients in the ambulance at the time of the crash. Stewart said another ambulance from Upstate Carolina Medical Center was able to take over for Medic 2 and answer the call.

Carolina Collision of Gaffney was called to the scene to remove the flipped ambulance from the roadway. The extent of the damage wasn't clear Monday.

The 1999 Ford ambulance sustained considerable damage on the front left and its front left tire was torn off, likely when it impacted an earthen berm on the side of the roadway. The ambulance flipped onto its right side, coming to rest across the southbound lane.