15 hospitalized after responding Marion County Fire Rescue truck slammed by bus, rolls over: officials
MARION COUNTY, Fla. - Fifteen people were hospitalized in a three-vehicle crash in Ocala involving a responding fire rescue truck, a pickup truck and a bus filled with adult students, according to officials.
The crash happened just before 9 a.m. at the intersection of SW 90th Street and SW 80th Avenue in Ocala, according to Marion County Fire Rescue. Several 911 callers reported a Marion County Fire Rescue truck was hit and rolled over on its side while responding to a medical call on Tuesday, officials said.
The bus and pickup truck were driving south on SW 80th Avenue in the inside and outside lanes, respectively, when the ambulance – with its lights and sirens activated – began to cross the intersection, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol. Before the ambulance completely crossed the intersection, it was struck by the bus and pickup truck.
15 hospitalized after bus, truck & ambulance crash
Fifteen people were hospitalized in a three-vehicle crash in Ocala involving a responding fire rescue truck, a pickup truck and a bus filled with adult students, according to officials. The crash happened just before 9 a.m. at the intersection of SW 90th Street and SW 80th Avenue in Ocala, according to Marion County Fire Rescue. Several 911 callers reported a Marion County Fire Rescue truck was hit and rolled over on its side while responding to a medical call on Tuesday, officials said.
That's when the fire rescue truck overturned onto its left side.
Fire rescue units arrived about a minute after the crash, since it happened near Fire Station #21. They began to triage patients in all three vehicles – including the Marion County Fire Rescue truck and a small bus from Bridge to Hope, a training center for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Photo: Marion County Fire Rescue
Photo: Marion County Fire Rescue
Fifteen people were transported to local hospitals, including two Marion County firefighters, 11 students, the bus driver and the pickup truck driver. Eight of the students were transported as a precaution, while three had minor injuries, according to officials. The two firefighters also suffered minor injuries.
"They were released from the hospital within the hour. They are fine and expect to be back on duty their next shift," a spokesperson for the fire department told FOX 35.
Photo: Marion County Fire Rescue
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Marion County Fire Rescue issued a reminder to drivers to "yield to emergency vehicles as our lights and sirens are on," according to the post.