Two people are dead and a paramedic is in critical condition after a three-vehicle crash involving a Louisiana ambulance killed his colleague and a patient being transported to the hospital, authorities said.
Louisiana State Police identified the two victims killed in the Pointe Coupee Parish crash as Kymber Nezat, 28, and Albert Bordelon, 82, police said in a news release on Facebook Tuesday.
Police said Nezat – who was driving the ambulance – was traveling north on Louisiana Highway 1 behind a Nissan Altima when Nezat rear-ended the Altima, which caused the ambulance to enter the southbound lane and hit a Kenworth tractor trailer head-on, the preliminary investigation revealed.
“Despite being properly restrained, both Nezat and Bordelon (who was being transported) succumbed to their injuries at the scene,” Louisiana State Police said in the news release. “A second rear passenger of the Sprinter was transported to a local hospital with severe injuries from the crash.”
The other occupants sustained moderate injuries, police said.
“A standard toxicology sample was collected from all drivers and will be submitted for scientific analysis,” police said.
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Mother of paramedic asks for prayers
Hunter Fruge, the paramedic inside the ambulance, was taken to a Baton Rouge hospital and is in critical condition, local news station WAFB reported.
Fruge’s mother asked for prayers for her son in a social media post Tuesday, the station reported. “Pray hard without stopping,” the post said.
Acadian Ambulance confirmed that one of their ambulances was involved in the crash and there were two fatalities.
“We are cooperating with the law enforcement officials investigating the scene and have no other information to release at this time,” Acadian Ambulance said in a statement on Facebook Tuesday.
The crash is under investigation.
