Fire Department

While en route to an emergency medical call Sunday evening, Medic 8 fell victim to a hit-and-run crash along East Washington Avenue.

The ambulance was traveling northeast on East Washington Avenue with lights and sirens on as they prepared to turn left onto Portage Road. A dark pickup truck positioned in the left turn lane was at a stop. As Medic 8 began to turn left, the pickup truck moved forward and struck Medic 8 on the driver’s side.

Upon impact, the pickup truck made a rapid U-turn and fishtailed away, driving southwest on East Washington Avenue at a high rate of speed, swerving between multiple lanes during its getaway.

Per department protocol, Medic 8 advised dispatchers of the situation and pulled into a nearby parking lot to await police response. A second ambulance was dispatched to the EMS call in place of Medic 8.

Engine Company 11, staffed by four firefighter/EMTs, had also been dispatched to the same EMS call as Medic 8. Their response to the call was not impacted, and patient care was not delayed. The Madison Fire Department’s Engine and Ladder Companies are able to provide basic life support and medical care until advanced life support ambulances arrive to a medical emergency.

The Madison Police Department is investigating the hit-and-run crash.