Two Rural/Metro paramedics and a trainee were injured Sunday after the ambulance in which they were traveling hydroplaned on Chumuckla Hwy. at Fielding Dr., flipping onto its side and breaking a power pole.
Julie Young, 44, Pensacola, was driving the ambulance. Pamela Myers, 43, Milton, was a front-seat passenger. An EMT trainee, Stephanie Kirkpatrick, was riding in a captain's seat in the back of the ambulance. She was injured when equipment in the rear of the ambulance became airborne during the rollover. She suffered a facial laceration, according to witnesses.

All three were wearing seatbelts and were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where they were treated and released the same day.

The accident happened at 12:55 p.m. according to Florida Highway Patrol reports. The ambulance crew had been dispatched to a head-on collision, with one vehicle on fire, farther north on Chumuckla Hwy. They were traveling with lights and sirens at an estimated speed of 45 mph.

Santa Rosa County Firefighter Association President Everett Pfeiffer witnessed the entire incident while following directly behind the ambulance, on the way to the same head-on collision. He was first on the scene of the ambulance rollover and was the first to call in the crash.

Pfeiffer says a "change in the roadway" allowed water from the rain to puddle. A dashboard camera, mounted inside the ambulance, offers video to confirm Pfeiffer's claim.

During the video, the ambulance suddenly begins to spin on the roadway, immediately leaving Chumuckla Hwy., and striking the power pole while traveling backward. Upon impact with the power pole, the ambulance flips onto its driver's side.

Pfeiffer says the power pole splintered and broke in half, leaving live power lines hanging just inches over the ambulance. He says he immediately asked the E911 Center dispatchers to contact Gulf Power and cut the electricity to the line.

"I couldn't get too close because if the power pole fell, the hot power line would land across the ambulance," he notes. Instead, he approached keeping a safe distance and talked to the paramedics through the windshield.
"Five minutes seemed like three hours to me," Pfeiffer adds.

Once Gulf Power arrived on scene to confirm the power was off, rescue crews from the Pace Volunteer Fire Department, Ferry Pass (Escambia), Skyline Volunteer Fire Department and numerous other districts began working to free those trapped in the ambulance.

The windshield was busted out and a saw was used to cut Young and Myers from the ambulance. The steering wheel was cut to free Young's legs, pinned under the dash.

Witnesses say one firefighter busted out the back door window of the ambulance and climbed through to offer aid to the injured EMT student riding in the back. Rural/Metro General Manager Ken Daughtery climbed through the same window to help.

Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to free Kirkpatrick from the back of the ambulance.

Emergency Medical Services from Escambia County arrived at the scene to help transport the injured Rural/Metro employees. Another ambulance from Rural/Metro was sent to the scene of the original head-on crash.

Pfeiffer says the worst part of witnessing the accident was recognizing the people inside the wrecked ambulance as his friends.

"When I walked up to the wreck, I could see Pam hanging by her seatbelt. I didn't see any blood. She was able to respond."

He says the best part of the incident was the show of support from every fire district in northern Santa Rosa County—and many from Escambia County.

"Cantonment even came," he says. "…Avalon's chief and assistant chief…we're a tight-knit family," Pfeiffer shares.

The Rural/Metro ambulance was totaled in the wreck, with damage listed at $25,000, by the Florida Highway Patrol.