It all started just before 5:30 a.m. Monday when a 40-year-old man was struck by a car on the southbound Roosevelt Boulevard near Berkley Street in Philadelphia's Germantown section.
The man, who was knocked unconscious, came to as paramedics were transporting him to the hospital. When the ambulance got to 19th Street and Erie Avenue the man allegedly began attacking the medics.
He allegedly stabbed the two medics with scissors. The medics immediately pushed an emergency button to call for police.
"They know exactly who the radio belongs to, they know exactly who is in trouble and they are listening for 10 seconds for that person's message," said Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers.
Witnesses say the patient then jumped out of the vehicle with an oxygen container still attached to him and ran up to a fire engine that was following the unit. He threw the oxygen tank at the driver's side window and tried to get in to steal the fire engine.
The man was dragged out by firefighters and then tazed multiple times by police.
Deputy Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer explains, "We believe the patient was on some type of drugs. [That is] the reason they … responded that way."
"It's just something we don't tolerate," Commissioner Ayers said.
Both medics were taken to Temple University Hospital with stab wounds.
Police are still investigating exactly what happened, which is why no charges have yet been filed.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Fire Department is conducting a study with Drexel University to figure out better ways to handle situations like this one.
"They're in the process of helping us do more to avoid these injuries to our paramedics," Commissioner Ayers said.
Both medics were treated and released from Temple University Hospital.
