Woman who died in downtown crash with ambulance identified

Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 | 1:12 p.m.

Crash location

Woman dies in downtown collision with ambulance (9-27-09)

A 66-year-old Las Vegas woman who died Sunday after the vehicle she was riding in collided with an ambulance in downtown Las Vegas has been identified as Fe Revilla Gascon.

A Clark County Coroner's Office spokeswoman said the death was ruled an accident and that Gascon died from chest trauma.

The ambulance, a 2003 Ford E350, was northbound at 5:13 p.m. Sunday on Las Vegas Boulevard in the far left land, Metro Police said. A 2005 Pontiac Vibe driven by Ricardo Gutierrez-Jiminez, 52, of Las Vegas, was going east on Bridger Avenue in the left travel lane when the vehicles collided in the intersection, police said.

Hours after the crash police said the ambulance was answering an emergency call with its lights and sirens activated.

The front of the American Medical Response ambulance struck the right side of the Pontiac, police said. Both vehicles continued across the intersection, coming to a stop in the northeast corner.

Aida Guiterrez, 63, was a passenger in the front seat of the Pontiac. She was taken to University Medical Center with critical injuries, police said.

Gutierrez-Jiminez and the passenger in the ambulance, age 25, were taken to UMC with minor injuries. Neither the ambulance passenger nor the 36-year-old driver has been identified. The ambulance driver was not injured in the wreck, police said.

"Our hearts go out to the family who lost their loved one and to all who were involved in the collision last evening," John Wilson, general manager of AMR Las Vegas, said in a statement Monday. "AMR is cooperating with the law enforcement investigation of the collision, but due to patient privacy laws and the ongoing investigation, AMR cannot provide any further information at this time."

No charges have been filed, but the collision remains under investigation, police said today.

This is the 65th fatal traffic accident this year in Metro's jurisdiction.

Discussion: 7 comments so far…

By JSTACK

9/28/09 at 3:04 p.m.

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I have lived in Vegas for 6 years. And in that time, whenever I see and hear an ambulance approaching an intersection...they do it at an expected slow pace. Drivers in Vegas I've noticed have no clue as to what is going on in their surroundings. Too busy talking on the phone, turning around messing with the kids in the back seat, putting on their make up, having the dog sit on their lap with their head out the window, not maintaining their own lanes, etc. I never wish any ill will on anyone, but this could have been prevented.
By VegasSucks

9/28/09 at 4:17 p.m.

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I agree with JSTACK; I have lived in Las Vegas for many, many years and I have NEVER seen an ambulance being driven unsafely. Their drivers are to be commended on their exemplary skills, especially approaching and then continuing through intersections.
Their careful driving, along with having the lights and sirens activated, is all that we can ask of them.
This was truly an accident. My heart goes out not only to the deceased passenger in the approaching vehicle, but especially to the AMR personnel.
By DTJ

9/28/09 at 10:04 p.m.

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Actually, I HAVE seen some idiots behind the wheel of amubulances (hey, this is Vegas, afterall). But, I agree with the above comments. Overwhelmingly, ambulance drivers cross against the light with due caution. Just to sure though, I await the investigation report.
By Lenny_V

9/29/09 at 12:09 a.m.

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Who knows. What call were they going to and was the driver of the ambulance given a blood test? Were there independent witnesses to what happened or is this reporter content with a "police said" approach?
By bandit1979

9/29/09 at 12:10 a.m.

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Kinetics alone make one wonder how fast the ambulance was going to cause such damage. The speed limit on the BLVD is 30 mph there. For a fatal injury to have occured, the ambulance had to be flying. As idealistic as the above posts are, I know first hand that AMR and MedicWest drivers commonly lack "due regard" for intersections and posted speed limits. The State of Nevada allows for a 10 MPH variance when an emergency vehicle is operating with warning systems. It would be very difficult to sustain a fatal injury with a 40 MPH impact, even if it was directly to that passenger door. I would bet money AMR will be at-fault on this.
By DarkCat

9/29/09 at 11:38 a.m.

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As a paramedic and former employee of AMR I'd like to comment...

Company policy in this situation is the driver will recieve an independant evaluation to determine if drugs/alcohol played a roll.

I've been told by people who are involved in this investigation that the ambulance entered the intersection, against a red light, well above the posted limit.

What would be really interesting is if their dispatch center was prssing them to make an ETA. On occasion where the ambulance is running late, the crew will be constantly asked "what's your ETA?" in an attempt to get them to drive a little faster.

This event is unfortunate. Most employees at AMR are dedicated to their jobs and to the community and they love what they do. The girl driving this ambulance was with the company a long time, has a family, and is a good person.
By jmueller711

10/12/09 at 4:55 p.m.

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"Kinetics alone make one wonder how fast the ambulance was going to cause such damage. The speed limit on the BLVD is 30 mph there. For a fatal injury to have occured, the ambulance had to be flying. As idealistic as the above posts are, I know first hand that AMR and MedicWest drivers commonly lack "due regard" for intersections and posted speed limits. The State of Nevada allows for a 10 MPH variance when an emergency vehicle is operating with warning systems. It would be very difficult to sustain a fatal injury with a 40 MPH impact, even if it was directly to that passenger door. I would bet money AMR will be at-fault on this."

First I would like to state im a former employee of Amr:
1. legal emergency is 10-15 mph over speed limit.
2. per say AMR is going 40mph and the other vehicle is going(well be nice and say she was doing speed limit)30 mph TOTAL SPEED OF IMPACT IS 70MPH THAT CAN KILL SOMEONE.lets say they were both doing the speed limit 30+30=60mph that can kill someone.

So before you get on here and badmouth people who might need to save you life one day: please pick up an Emt book and read up before you get on here talk all about "Kinetics".

But then again your probably one of those people who see and hear lights and sirens right behind you and you just Park right in from of them thinking "duh what do I do?"
PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT AND GET OUT OF OUR WAY YOU COSTING SOMEONE THEIR LIFE