Minivan Driver Cited in IL Ambulance Crash

May 18--The driver of a minivan involved in a crash with an ambulance in Aurora that sent 10 people to the hospital appeared not to see a stop sign before the collision, according to police.

Police said Thursday afternoon two children -- a 1-year-old boy and an 11-year-old boy -- who had received injuries believed to be life-threatening had been upgraded to "stable" condition. The other people involved in the crash had left hospitals by Thursday afternoon, police said in a Facebook post.

Around 4:05 p.m. Wednesday, police arrived at the crash at the intersection of Galena Boulevard and West Street on Aurora's East Side. The driver of a 2002 Chrysler Town and County minivan, heading south on West Street, appeared not to see a stop sign at Galena and continued into the intersection, Aurora police said in a Facebook post Thursday.

The ambulance was traveling west on Galena with its lights and siren on, according to police. It T-boned the driver's side of the minivan, police said.

All eight people in the minivan were taken to hospitals, as well as two people in the ambulance, police spokesman Dan Ferrelli said in an email.

Aurora Fire Department Capt. Jim Rhodes declined to comment, citing the continuing investigation by Aurora police.

The driver of the minivan, a 25-year-old Chicago man, was extricated by firefighters, according to police. Also in the van were a 20-year-old woman and six children: a 3-year-old girl, a 12-year-old girl, twin 1-year-old boys, a 5-year-old boy and an 11-year-old boy.

Police said one of the 1-year-old twins and the 11-year-old boy were later taken by helicopter to a hospital after recieving injuries believed to be life-threatening.

The 36-year-old Aurora Fire Department paramedic driving the ambulance was treated at an Aurora hospital for minor injuries, according to police. A 16-year-old girl riding in the ambulance appeared not to receive any new injuries related to the crash, and continued on to the hospital in a different ambulance. A 28-year-old paramedic treating her declined medical treatment, according to police.

Police said there did not appear to be signs of drug or alcohol use at the scene.

The driver of the minivan was cited for failure to yield at an intersection and failing to secure a child in a child-restraint seat, according to police.

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