By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)/rdnewsNOW

saturday morning

Collision near Thorsby kills two, including paramedic in ambulance

Sep 10, 2022 | 3:33 PM

Editor’s Note: The headline for a previous version of this story referred to the paramedic as an ambulance driver. This is how RCMP referred to the paramedic in a news release. It did not become apparent until later, when the HSAA tweeted, that the driver is specifically a paramedic. We have changed the headline to reflect this specificity.

Tragedy has struck in central Alberta after a collision involving an ambulance turned fatal Saturday morning.

RCMP say it was just after 4 a.m. on Sept. 10, along Highway 39 just west of Thorsby, when members were called to the scene of a collision.

The collision, police say, involved an older model Buick Skylark and an ambulance.

The driver and lone occupant of the Buick, a 27-year-old male from Edmonton, was pronounced deceased on scene.

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Meantime, the driver of the ambulance, a 51-year-old female paramedic, was also sadly pronounced deceased.

A male passenger in the ambulance suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital in Edmonton. There were no patients onboard the ambulance.

Police say that a collision analyst attended the scene, and preliminary investigation shows that the Buick was travelling westbound on Highway 39 and crossed the center line where it collided with the eastbound ambulance.

Alcohol and/or drugs appear to be a factor in the collision.

Emergency crews have cleared from the scene and there is no further traffic disruption.

RCMP from Breton and Leduc also attended.

Supports are in place for EMS staff. If you are impacted by this or any other loss, visit the AHS Grief Support resource page at albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page15944.aspx.

HALO Air Ambulance is extending condolences to family, friends, and everyone at AHS for their tragic loss.

READ MORE: First responders to reflect on colleagues lost and sick, as well as 9/11, this Sunday