Two paramedics from Prince Edward Island and a patient were killed Tuesday morning after an ambulance collided with a transport truck in rural New Brunswick, just west of the Confederation Bridge.
The crash happened on Route 16 in Melrose, N.B., only a few kilometres from the bridge connecting New Brunswick and P.E.I.
Three People Died at the Scene
The New Brunswick RCMP said the victims included the 56-year-old male driver of the ambulance, a 77-year-old woman, and a 23-year-old woman.
All three were pronounced dead at the scene.
Health PEI later confirmed that the people killed were two Island EMS paramedics and a patient.
Ambulance and Truck Collided Head-On
According to RCMP, investigators believe the ambulance was travelling westbound when it collided head-on with the transport truck on Route 16.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Police said the driver of the transport truck was taken to hospital with serious injuries, but those injuries are not considered life-threatening.
P.E.I. Premier Says Province Is Mourning
P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz said the deaths have left the province in shock.
In a statement, he said “all Islanders are grieving” after the loss of the two paramedics and the patient.
Lantz said the paramedics devoted their lives to caring for others and worked in a profession built on compassion, courage and service.
He added that because Prince Edward Island is a small province, losses like this are felt deeply across the community.
Emergency Crews Responded Tuesday Morning
Members of the Sackville RCMP responded to the two-vehicle collision at about 9:11 a.m. Tuesday.
Cpl. Luc Picard said both the ambulance and the transport truck were sent for mechanical inspection.
An RCMP collision reconstructionist also attended the scene, along with members of New Brunswick Coroner Services and several provincial government departments.
Route 16 Closed After Collision
Route 16 remained closed Tuesday afternoon as investigators continued their work at the crash scene.
Authorities have not yet released further details about what may have caused the collision.
The investigation remains ongoing.
The fatal ambulance crash in Melrose, New Brunswick, has left Prince Edward Island grieving the loss of two Island EMS paramedics and a patient. RCMP said the westbound ambulance collided head-on with a transport truck on Route 16 near the Confederation Bridge on Tuesday morning.
Three people died at the scene, while the truck driver was hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators are now examining the vehicles and reconstructing the collision to determine what caused the crash.
