June 25--Two members of an ambulance crew died Tuesday morning in an accident with an 18-wheeler in Greene County, according to Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop J spokesman Brent Barfield.
The ambulance, operating out of the Heidelberg station in Laurel, was headed to a call on Mississippi 63 at about noon when it crashed into a semi-truck carrying a bulldozer near the Piave community, just south of the Piave PLaza Road. The crash occurred, Barfield said, after the ambulance, with its red lights flashing but no siren sounding, went to pass two 18-wheelers carrying other loads.
After passing the first 18-wheeler, Barfield said, the driver of the second 18-wheeler, identified as Charles E. Bexley, 47, went to make a left turn when the ambulance struck that truck in the rear drive wheel. Both the ambulance and the truck immediately burst into flames, Barfield said.
Greene County Coroner Ladd Pulliman pronounced the ambulance crew members dead the scene. The names of both of the crew members are being withheld pending their positive identification from the Mississippi State Crime Lab.
Bexley suffered injuries and was taken by ambulance to Perry County General Hospital.
MHP is continuing their investigation.
The names of the two ambulance crew members will be released, Barfield said, once positive identification is made.
"It's sad," Barfield said. "These guys, I see them everyday out here."
The Red Cross also responded to the scene to provide aid to first responders.
Copyright 2014 - The Sun Herald
