Plainview EMS unit hit during run

A City of Plainview ambulance on an emergency run was involved in a wreck early Tuesday when a pickup failed to yield the right of way.

The 2009 red Chevrolet ambulance, driven by Timothy Miller, was northbound in the 2300 block of Quincy at 5:40 a.m. responding to an emergency call with siren and lights flashing when it attempted to turn right onto 24th after going around another vehicle that was stopped for the ambulance at the intersection. A 2002 silver Ford F150, driven by Maria DeJesus Avila, 41, of Plainview was in the right-hand lane on Quincy and continued through the intersection, striking the ambulance as it turned.

The new $156,000 ambulance, which had been in service just more than a month, received damage to the bumper, hood and right fender. A damage estimate was not immediately available.

“Obviously this was not the fault of our personnel,” said Fire Chief Rusty Powers. “Emergency vehicles do not pass other vehicles to the right. The general public is required to pull to their right when an emergency vehicle approaches. Our policies, procedures and laws were obeyed by our personnel.”

A second ambulance immediately was dispatched to replace the damaged ambulance on the call with only a slight delay.

Avila received a citation for failing to yield the right of way.
By Nicki Bruce Logan in The Plainview Daily Herald