Onondaga, NY (September 2, 2026) – Two first responders were injured on Monday, August 31, after an ambulance crashed while traveling to another accident in the town of Onondaga.
According to the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, emergency personnel were initially dispatched around 2:10 p.m. to a single-vehicle crash on State Route 11A near Gibson Road in the Onondaga Nation. A car carrying five men had lost control and crashed, and four occupants were taken to area hospitals in stable condition.
While responding to that crash, a TLC Emergency Medical Services ambulance also lost control and crashed on Seneca Turnpike in the town of Onondaga. The two male TLC employees inside the ambulance were taken to a local hospital and were both listed in stable condition.
The sheriff’s office was investigating both crashes, according to the report.
Our thoughts are with the two injured first responders, the people affected by the other crash, and their loved ones. We wish everyone who was injured a full and speedy recovery.
How Should Drivers Respond to Emergency Vehicles?
Emergency vehicles can move through traffic under conditions that are different from normal driving. Ambulances, fire trucks, and police vehicles may approach intersections quickly or change lanes unexpectedly while responding to an incident. Drivers should remain alert for emergency lights and sirens and be prepared for traffic around them to behave differently.
When an emergency vehicle approaches, motorists should avoid sudden maneuvers that could create another hazard. Drivers should look carefully in mirrors, signal before changing lanes, and give emergency vehicles adequate room whenever possible. Traffic may also slow or stop around an emergency response, so maintaining extra following distance can provide more time to react.
Roadside emergency scenes can present additional dangers because responders may be working close to moving traffic. Drivers passing an active scene should remain focused on the roadway rather than the activity around them. Slowing down when conditions require it and maintaining a predictable path can help protect both motorists and people working near the road.
