UPDATE: Two critical after three car collision in South Bend

by Nora Gathings (hsgathings@wsbt.com)

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accident at the intersection of Cleveland Road and Bendix Drive

The driver and passenger of this SUV had to be extricated after an accident at the intersection of Cleveland Road and Bendix Drive on Friday, July 4, 2008. The passenger is in critical condition. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Jul 4, 2008 at 5:20 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jul 4, 2008 at 10:23 PM EDT

SOUTH BEND — Police have reopened several roads near the Indiana Toll Road after a three car accident at Cleveland Road and Bendix Drive. It happened just before 4 p.m. Friday.

Police say an ambulance had its lights on and was headed east on Cleveland when it collided with a gold SUV. Witnesses say that SUV then hit a Ford.

Two people were taken to the hospital in critical condition. One had been injured in a motorcycle crash at Redbud Track & Trail in Buchanan and was being transported in the ambulance.

Rescuers had to use the Jaws of Life to pull a driver and passenger out of the SUV. The passenger of the SUV is in critical condition.

Police are still investigating, and don’t believe alcohol was a factor.

The intersection at Cleveland and Bendix was closed for several hours while crews cleaned up the scene.

Monday, Jul 7 at 2:07 AM Beth wrote ...

I am surprised how many postings have been made between wsbt and wndu that come from sources close to someone that was on scene. Just because they happened to be on scene doesn't mean they have thier facts all straight and obviously have no business bieng given a license to practice if they are unable to have respect for Hippa or confidentiallity of info. One was posted from the wife of a husband on scene. Concerns of previous driving hx are not likely to be discussed at the time of accident.

Sunday, Jul 6 at 12:36 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Quit blamming the ambulance driver! She had her lights and sirens blarring! The SUV driver should have had the radio and any other noise low enough to be able to listen for sirens. I'm so tired of seeing people NOT pull over or give right of way to emergency vehicles. Green light or not, that ambulance has right of way!

Sunday, Jul 6 at 11:35 AM T Gaskill wrote ...

I think this just goes to show that people need to be aware of their surroundings at all times. I know if I was in an accident I would hope that drivers would give the ambulance the right away no matter what the case may be.

Sunday, Jul 6 at 2:33 AM WRONG! wrote ...

for the idiot learned the driver of the SUV was drunk you are completely WRONG!. Alcohol did not play a factor in the crash at all!

Saturday, Jul 5 at 11:11 PM Anonymous wrote ...

i am curious what the law really states. i was waiting at a red light yesterday when a s.b.p.o came from behind with lights and sirens and went about 55-60mph through a RED light. never approached with caution or even slightly slowed. my car shook when he passed. if a driver was proceeding through their green light he would have CREAMED the driver. there is NO emergency that urgent to risk the lives of other drivers. adrenaline junkies perhaps?

Saturday, Jul 5 at 9:40 PM Law wrote ...

Also, (d) This section does not do the following: (1) Relieve the person who drives an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons. (2) Protect the person who drives an authorized emergency vehicle from the consequences of the person's reckless disregard for the safety of others.

Saturday, Jul 5 at 9:39 PM Law wrote ...

For all those that dont know the Ambulance is wrong according to law:Sec.8.(a) This section applies to the person who drives an authorized emergency vehicle when: 1.responding to an emergency call; b.The person who drives an authorized emergency vehicle may do the following:2.Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign,but only after slowing down as necessary for safe operation. As you can read and by looking at impact of SUV. Ambulance has the responsiblity of not endangering

Saturday, Jul 5 at 8:39 PM PULL OVER when you hear sirens wrote ...

The pictures of the accident are confusing. We must remember that they had to use the jaws of life to open up the SUV to get the passengers out. Irregardless, if you approach an intersection in which traffic may have very well been slowed, you should slow down too until you identify which direction the lights are coming from. Too often have I been in traffic and I hear sirens approaching intersections and cars disregard (ie slow down, pull over) emergency sirens.

Saturday, Jul 5 at 8:38 PM wondering wrote ...

Where are the Airbags?! I dont see any deployed! Scary.

Saturday, Jul 5 at 7:47 PM Citizen wrote ...

So guess what I learned. SUV driver was drunk...So who is the idiot now Mike?

Saturday, Jul 5 at 6:32 PM mike wrote ...

Most of you a idiots posting non sense blaming the suv driver we don't know what happened stop blaming the suv driver. I have a theory it was Bigfoot the suv was trying to avoid hitting Bigfoot and swerved at the last minute. Or maybe it was barrack Obama or illegal immigrants. It was just and accident stuff happens.

Saturday, Jul 5 at 4:27 PM SB wrote ...

Probably some wimp that had the windows up & air on & couldn't hear the sirens. Don't you people have the windows shut long enough during the winter? It rarely gets warm enough for air cond. in this state you cave people.

Saturday, Jul 5 at 11:35 AM Citizen wrote ...

The thing that upsets me the most about this situation is that people are saying the SUV driver had every right to keep going, just because they had a green light. I admit it is possible they might have not heard the sirens. But too often you see people racing through intersections trying to beat the emergency response vehicles. People have to keep in mind that these vehicles are sometimes responding to life and death situations; getting to your destination quicker is not worth someone's life

Saturday, Jul 5 at 9:41 AM km-paramedic wrote ...

Yes, if the driver heard the sirens, they should have slowed down, but if they had the green light, they had every right to continue through the intersection. The ambulance is only asking for right of way, and should have been able to stop. I feel bad for teh EMT that was driving, but she was obvioulsy going way too fast through that intersection. I hope that the folks in the SUV will be okay.

Saturday, Jul 5 at 9:23 AM Medic/firefighter wrote ...

Lights and siren are ASKING for the right of way, any emergency vehicle with lights and sirens on must approach an intersection like each lane of the intersection is an individual stop. If that was not done, which by the pictures it wasnt then the ambulance was at fault. And obviously, they approached the intersection way too fast! With the way new cars are built its very hard for anyone to hear sirens, especially if you have a radio on. I hope all involved recover fully!

Saturday, Jul 5 at 8:07 AM Anonymous wrote ...

I am sure some times things like this happen due to drivers having their music up to loud. Just another example of why it is so important to pay attention while driving. I hope everyone will be ok.

Saturday, Jul 5 at 1:50 AM Anonymous wrote ...

This makes me so mad. I hate how people always try to keep going even though they hear the sirens. If it was them in the ambulance(now it is) I sure they would want people to move out the way for them. I hope that the the paramedics and everyone else involved in the accident will be okay, and that the drive of the SUV is gets arrested.

Friday, Jul 4 at 11:28 PM Citizen wrote ...

Accidents happen because drivers aren't aware and try to beat emergency vehicles and police through intersections. Reckless driving is all it is.

Friday, Jul 4 at 8:55 PM stephanie wrote ...

do they have any names avaliable?

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