1 dead, 1 critically injured in crash involving Indianapolis ambulance, car

INDIANAPOLIS - One person has died and another is critically injured after a crash involving an ambulance and a car on Indianapolis' north side early Saturday morning.Indianapolis police said the crash happened just after 3:30 a.m. at the intersection of St. Clair Street and Senate Avenue.

When officers arrived, they found that the ambulance was rolled onto its side and had slid into a parked vehicle that was unoccupied.

"The driver and the medic in the ambulance were extricated and transported to Wishard Hospital in critical condition," IMPD Sgt. Linda Jackson said.

Police said Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services Private Timothy McCormick, an EMT, passed away Saturday morning due to severe injuries.

McCormick, 24, joined the IEMS team in June 2010.

Investigators said a car that was westbound on St. Clair struck the ambulance that was southbound on Senate.

The crew was not on a run during the time of the accident, they were on their way back to the hospital after a run to resupply the ambulance.

They were both wearing seatbelts, police said.

"The female driver of the passenger car was in good condition and transported to Wishard for a legal blood draw," Jackson said.

Police told 9 On Your Side sister station, RTV6 that they smelled alcohol on the driver of the second vehicle.

They drew her blood but did not arrest her immediately.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with families of the ambulance driver who was killed and the medic severely injured in this mornings accident," said Maggie Lewis, City-County Council President.

"This is a terrible loss for Indianapolis EMS and our city. Our thoughts and prayers are with our public safety community and with the families. When we are most in need, IEMS takes care of us. Now it is our time as a community to take care of them," said Mayor Greg Ballard.

"The entire Indianapolis EMS family is deeply saddened by the news of our fallen brother. Time was a heroic provider, but he was also a wonderful colleague and friend to us all," said Dr. Charles Miramonti, chief of Indianapolis EMS. "While I am overcome with grief, I am equally overwhelmed by my pride in the actions of our  crews on the scene and the tremendous outpouring support from our Department of Public Safety family, our Health and Hospital Corporation and Wishard family, and the entire community for our fallen colleague."

Officers said that the traffic light at the intersection was flashing yellow for northbound and southbound vehicles and red for vehicles that were eastbound and westbound at the time of the crash.