An EMS responder in Israel heading to a call on Thursday night the eve of 16 Tammuz was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident.
The responder, who was using lights and sirens, ran a red light and was struck by a vehicle traveling 100 KPH (60 MPH) on a green light. The small vehicle of the EMS responder was thrown to the other side of the road as the driver’s air bag inflated.
The driver’s ear was totally avulsed from his head and he sustained a number of fractured vertebra in his spine. At present doctors do not know if he will sustain permanent neurological damage as a result of his injuries.
EMS responders heading to calls in Israel in a private vehicle are not permitted to run red lights. While the practice is to run traffic signals, when something occurs like in this case the situation becomes complicated and serious.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
He is lucky to be alive. In cities like Yerushalayim that are full of traffic lights, it is hard to obey this rule, but absolutly obligatory non the less.
The practice is not to run red lights, any emergency responder reaching a light in Israel is supposed to come to a full stop and make sure that all other cars stopped to let them through before continuing.
Any emergency vehicle involved in an MVA while running a light is automatically responsible.