Teen driver crashes ambulance on I-75

Blurred emergency lights
Blurred emergency lights
New Africa via Shutterstock

A 19-year-old driver crashed an Alachua County Fire Rescue ambulance late Monday night on I-75. 

According to a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) accident report, the incident occurred at 11:55 p.m. at mile marker 354, which is an exit in northwest Ocala. The driver is only identified as a 19-year-old male from Satellite, Fla. A 29-year-old male and a 66-year-old male were passengers in the vehicle. 

The report says the ambulance was traveling northbound in the outside lane when it drifted onto the shoulder, striking the back of a tractor trailer that was parked on the emergency lane. The ambulance rotated, slid onto the shoulder area and overturned, coming to rest on its side, the report said. 

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FHP issued the driver a citation and reported no injuries. 

In an email Assistant Fire Chief Michael Cowart said the ambulance driver is an Alachua County Fire Rescue employee and was authorized to drive the vehicle, which was deemed a total loss. 

“At the time of the accident, this unit was traveling back to Gainesville from an out-of-town transfer,” Cowart wrote. 

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include the information from Cowart. 

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