Ambulance Crash Kills Two on Staten Island
A BMW crossed the center lane on Hylan Boulevard and Seacrest Avenue Monday night at around 7:10 p.m., killing two and injuring two more. According to DNAinfo.com, the drivers of both vehicles were killed when the accident happened.
The ambulance driver was 58-year old David Restuccio, a paramedic who was also a first responder on Sept. 11, 2001 when he was a lieutenant for FDNY EMS before leaving to work for a private company. After the accident, he suffered cardiac arrest and later died at the hospital.
The driver of the BMW was ejected from his car and pronounced dead at the scene. Those injured include another EMS worker and an ambulance passenger being transported to the hospital. Both are in stable condition at Staten Island University Hospital.
It isn’t clear from news reports if the ambulance was speeding with lights and sirens at the time of the accident, or if they were transporting the patient in a non-emergency manner. What is clear, however, is that the BMW crossed the center line, apparently causing the accident.
When emergency vehicles travel at a high rate of speed, responding to accidents or going on calls, they risk getting involved in their own accident. However, most EMS, and firefighters are doubly cautious when driving with sirens on. They know the risks firsthand and aren’t interested in becoming a casualty themselves.
However, as a regular driver, every time you get on the road, you put yourself at risk. You are at the mercy of other drivers and are subject to their distractions, bad driving behaviors, and speeding. You don’t only have to drive your vehicle, but be aware of others at all times. At any given time, another driver could come into your lane, changing your life forever.
At the Law Offices of Omrani & Taub, we’ve seen all kinds of accidents over the years. From head-on collisions to rear-endings, these accidents often cause serious and lasting injuries that simply can’t be shook off. From extended hospital stays to months and even years of physical therapy, accident victims have to deal with the bad driving behavior of others indefinitely following a serious accident.
