BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — Newly released video shows the heroic actions taken by two Hall Ambulance employees after a vehicle struck their ambulance while taking a patient to the hospital.
On Saturday night, Hall Ambulance EMT Chelsey Hepp and Paramedic Kevin McClanahan were taking a patient to the hospital in an ambulance. While making a left turn onto E. California Avenue at Haley Street, another vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed ran a red light striking the ambulance's front end and driver’s side front quarter panel.
Video from inside the ambulance cab shows Hepp noticing the oncoming vehicle and bracing herself mere moments before the impact occurred.
Hall Ambulance said McClanahan was providing a patient care report to the receiving hospital. With his mic keyed, hospital staff heard the collision occur over the radio.
Hepp recalled hearing McClanahan giving his report, and after the crash, hearing groaning, and that he sounded injured. She asked if he was okay, to which he confirmed he was.
The paramedic confirmed that his patient had remained restrained on the gurney and was not experiencing any change from their original condition.
Hepp said she heard people hitting the window of the ambulance and shouting that someone needed help as they opened the driver’s door. She made her way over to the individual to begin providing medical aid, despite having just been involved in a crash herself.
Within moments, Hall Ambulance unit 455 arrived on the scene where they provided additional assistance to the other vehicle's passenger.
McClanahan has served with Hall Ambulance for 15 years and Hepp has been with Hall for five years.
“Regardless of what is going on, it is never a safe option to disobey traffic laws, for everyone else’s safety and your own," Hepp said.
