Alberta Health Services says help is on hand for affected colleagues
One paramedic died and another was seriously injured when the ambulance they were in was involved in a collision in Alberta.
The incident happened in Thorsby, Alberta, with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) responding to the incident on Highway 39 at around 4am.
A Buick Skylark was driving west on Highway 39 when it drifted across the centre line and hit an ambulance going east, reported CTV News, citing information from RCMP.
The 51-year-old female paramedic driving the ambulance was declared dead while the male paramedic passenger was seriously injured and was taken to the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton.
"A tragic incident has resulted in the death of one of our paramedics and injured a second member,” said Mike Parker, President of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta, which represents 28,000 health professionals in the province’s health-care system.
The lone 29-year-old driver of the buick also lost his life. Alcohol and drugs may be factors in the crash, according to RCMP.
"With a heavy heart I am reminded it is with the strength of colleagues that we must reach to each other for support. Stay safe all," Parker said.
Emergency support for anyone impacted by the death of the two paramedics were in place for staff members, according to Alberta Health Services.
Jason Copping, Alberta’s minister of health, also expressed his support for the families of those who were involved in the incident.
“I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the families of those involved and their friends and colleagues,” he said in a tweet.
“We all wish for a full recovery for the other EMS worker who is still in hospital,” he added.
Copping also noted that the province will not be providing more information about the incident at this time “out of consideration for those involved”.
Seven in 10 paramedics felt their lives were at risk while engaged in the line of duty, according to a report released in 2020.
Previously, a 40-year-old farm tractor driver died after a crash on Mill Village Road in the Shubenacadie village in Nova Scotia.
