Ambulance carrying patient crashes, overturns in North Philadelphia

NORTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Police say a total of eight people were taken to area hospitals after an ambulance carrying a patient crashed and overturned in North Philadelphia.

It happened just before 7:40 a.m. Monday at Hunting Park Avenue and Fox Street.

Images from Chopper 6 HD showed an ambulance lying on its side and a minivan with significant front-end damage nearby.

The fire department says the ambulance had its lights and sirens on with a patient in the back when it was hit by the minivan.

Food vendor Inam Khan was among those who ran to help.

Khan held the ambulance door open while two other men tried to get the patient out.

"She was almost flipped over," said Khan. "She was just crying. She was just really crying."

The woman was taken to Temple University Hospital in stable condition.

Three children were in the minivan along with their father and grandmother. The children were on their way to summer school.

One family member rushed the scene after the crash, but all five had already been taken to Einstein Medical Center.

None of their injuries were life-threatening.

The two fire service EMTs were taken to the hospital for observation.

Fire officials said the ambulance was operating well within the appropriate rules and regulations when the crash happened.

Police continued to investigate the crash, and there was no immediate word if charges would be filed.

Fire officials at Monday's accident scene wanted to remind drivers always to pull over for emergency vehicles.

"When you see or hear an emergency vehicle, you have to follow Pennsylvania state law and pull over to the side," said Deputy Fire Commissioner Jesse Wilson.