Philadelphia, PA (March 15, 2026) – A two-month-old chil died and multiple people were injured following a crash involving a privately operated ambulance early Sunday morning in Philadelphia’s Frankford neighborhood, according to authorities.
Officers with the Philadelphia Police Department responded to the collision around 5:15 a.m. at the intersection of Harbison Avenue and Torresdale Avenue in the Frankford. Investigators reported that a privately operated ambulance was traveling southbound on Torresdale Avenue at a high rate of speed. Authorities said the ambulance was not operating in emergency status and did not have its lights or sirens activated at the time.
Police stated that the ambulance entered the intersection against a red traffic signal and collided with a Honda Accord driven by a 25-year-old man who was traveling eastbound on Harbison Avenue through a green light. The Honda was struck on the driver’s side door, and the impact caused the ambulance to overturn in the roadway.
Authorities said the crash ejected a two-month-old infant and the child’s mother through the front windshield of the ambulance. Emergency crews with the Philadelphia Fire Department transported both patients to a nearby hospital. The infant, identified as Marian Harris, was pronounced dead shortly after 6 a.m. Officials said the child’s mother sustained severe head injuries and remains in critical condition.
The driver of the Honda Accord declined medical treatment at the scene. The 51-year-old ambulance operator was transported to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital for evaluation. The crash remains under investigation by the Philadelphia Police Department Crash Investigation Division.
We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the child who lost their life in this tragic accident.
Intersection Crashes Involving Emergency Vehicles Can Have Severe Consequences
Crashes involving ambulances or other emergency vehicles can be particularly dangerous due to their size, speed, and the presence of patients inside.
Busy intersections such as Harbison Avenue and Torresdale Avenue in areas like Frankford often see heavy traffic throughout the day.
When serious collisions occur at intersections, investigators typically review traffic signals, vehicle speed, driver actions, and roadway conditions to determine the factors that contributed to the crash.
