Columbus, OH (May 26, 2026) – Four people were hospitalized following a multi-vehicle collision at the intersection of Joyce Avenue and East 5th Avenue in Columbus in the early hours of Tuesday morning, May 26. The crash occurred around 3:30 a.m., according to city fire officials.
Officials said a medic unit was transporting a patient to Ohio State East Hospital when it collided with another vehicle that entered the intersection. Two Columbus firefighters, the patient being transported, and the driver of the second vehicle were all taken to area hospitals. Their conditions were reported as stable.
No additional details about what led to the intersection collision were released. Emergency units secured the area while the involved vehicles were cleared from the roadway. Investigators are continuing to examine how the early-morning crash unfolded. We are thinking of everyone injured.
How Emergency Vehicle Collisions in Intersections Can Happen
Collisions involving emergency transport vehicles can occur in intersections when multiple drivers are navigating complex traffic conditions at the same time. Even with lights and sirens activated, emergency vehicles may still face risks if other drivers do not see them in time or misjudge their speed or direction.
Intersections during early morning hours can present additional challenges due to reduced visibility and quieter traffic patterns that may lead to unexpected vehicle movement. After these types of crashes, investigators often review signal timing, driver visibility, and vehicle positioning to understand how the sequence of events occurred.
