An ambulance transporting a patient to UH Geauga Medical Center was tragically hit by a suspected drunk driver early Tuesday, resulting in the death of the patient, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The South Central Ambulance, which was impacted, had two paramedics on board who sustained severe injuries. Sgt. Aaron Belcher from the Ohio State Highway Patrol detailed that one of the paramedics, a 25-year-old, had to be airlifted to University Hospital Main Campus due to multiple bone fractures. Shaun Buehner, Chief of South Central Ambulance, verified this information. The other paramedic, who was driving the ambulance, was rushed to UH Geauga for medical attention.
The tragic incident occurred approximately at 12:30 a.m. at the intersection of SR 528 and Chardon Windsor Road. The ambulance was ferrying William Maley Jr., 47, from Dorset, southbound on SR 528 when a Jeep, traveling eastbound on Chardon Windsor Road, failed to halt at a stop sign and collided with the ambulance.
Following the impact, the Jeep burst into flames, while the ambulance veered off the road, rolling multiple times. Maley suffered fatal injuries and was declared dead on the spot.
The 36-year-old Jeep driver from Chardon had minor injuries treated at UH Geauga. Following his treatment, he was taken into custody at the Geauga County Jail. With charges currently pending against him, troopers suspect that alcohol and drugs played a role in the devastating crash.