Child hit by ambulance in Jasper

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Child hit by ambulance in Jasper

February 20, 2009 - 6:11 PM

Holloway jholloway@...>

The Department of Public Safety says it's finished with an

investigation into an accident that involved a two year old girl and an

ambulance. Troopers say they won't be filing any charges. The child is

recovering in a Houston hospital after an ambulance driver struck her

while responding to an emergency call.

Kellie son lives on a busy highway, 190 East in Jasper. 18

wheelers whizz by a few feet away from her yard. She has to keep an eye

on her toddler who's learning to open doors.

" We just keep her inside. when we do go outside we actually have a

baby harness like a leash. We get a lot of comments about it good and

bad, " said Kellie son.

What happened just two houses away only makes her worry more. She

heard loud voices made her look outside and she saw a Priority One

ambulance blocking traffic in the middle of road. All she knew was the

ambulance was taking away a 2-year-old girl.

" There was no cop at the scene. Only an ambulance. That made people

suspicious, " said son.

The drivers were responding to an emergency in Newton. They told

officers that they saw the young girl in the road. They swerved to avoid

hitting her but they didn't have enough time.

" Child was transported to Jasper Memorial Hospital for medical

evaluation by the ambulance that struck it. Priority One EMS, " said Sgt.

Doug Heigley.

According to the Jasper County sheriff's radio log, Priority One

notified officers of the accident at 6:44 pm. The sheriff's office says

that was the only to report the accident. Heigley says to his knowledge

nobody else called the sheriff's office to report the accdient.

DPS troopers say the ambulance crew told them they stopped and

rendered aid immediately.

" Look at this road. It's so busy. If they hadn't turned around I

believe she'd been hit several times, " said son.

No criminal charges have been filed.

" In this case the pedestrian was in the roadway. Failed to give the

right of way to the motor vehicle. There are no charges to be filed, "

said Heigley.

Sergeant Heigley says the child has been in the hospital for a

week. She suffered a broken arm and leg. He says she's in stable

condition.

" My prayers go out to the family. I feel sorry for them that this

even happened, " said son.

We contacted the child's mother and Priority One EMS out of

Jasper. Both declined comment.

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