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Ambulance hits taxi, injuring one

E-mail|Link|Comments () November 1, 2009 01:10 AM

By John M. Guilfoil, Globe Correspondent

A Boston EMS ambulance collided with a taxicab at Boston University last night, injuring one person who had to be taken to a hospital, police and fire officials said.

Officials gave few details about the accident last night, and the Boston Fire Department was not dispatched to the scene, in violation of emergency protocol, a fire official said.

The accident was reported at 10:40 p.m., said Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald, who added that he was able to look up the accident report on the department computer network but that he was not aware of the accident until asked by the Globe. He also said that the fire department’s dispatch center was not notified about the accident.

He said that was a mistake. “We are dispatched to all motor vehicle accidents with injuries,” MacDonald said. “Protocol says we respond, especially with injuries. We’re usually dispatched whether there’s injuries or not.”

The accident occurred on Agganis Way in Allston, near Commonwealth Avenue. Officials would not identify the injured person or comment on whether it was an EMS worker, a cab driver, or a civilian.

MacDonald said there’s a variety of reasons why fire personnel are needed at crashes, including possible chemical leaks and the risk of fire. “Typically the first thing we do with motor vehicle accidents is we disconnect the battery to the vehicle, wash-down any chemicals – it might be leaking fuel – and [attend to] the injuries themselves,” he said.

Boston Police spokesman James Kenneally confirmed the accident last night and acknowledged that a Boston EMS ambulance was involved but said no additional details were available. He would not comment on protocol matters.

Jennifer Mehigan, a spokeswoman for Boston EMS, did not return calls late last night seeking comment.

John M. Guilfoil can be reached at jguilfoil@globe.com