After Mehlville Fire Protection District emergency crews responded last week to a single-car accident on Gravois Road at Interstate 270, a vehicle exiting the interstate crashed into the side of a parked ambulance, injuring a firefighter and a paramedic, according to a news release issued by the district.

The impact of the crash pushed the ambulance roughly 10 feet, striking and partly pinning one firefighter and one paramedic under the vehicle at about 1 p.m. June 23.

Co-workers of the trapped individuals radioed South County Fire Alarm and advised them that their parked ambulance had been struck by a vehicle and there were two individuals trapped with potentially life-threatening injuries.

An additional two pumpers and three ambulances then responded to the call.

Firefighters and paramedics on the scene immediately worked to free their co-workers and started medical treatment to stabilize them, while they continued working with the original two accident victims who were transported to an area hospital.

After both employees were freed from under the ambulance and stabilized, one district employee was transported to St. Anthony’s Medical Center; the other was transported to St. John’s Mercy Medical Center.

Both employees were treated and released later that day.

Mehlville Fire Protection District Chief Ray Haddock stated in the release, “Working vehicle accidents is always dangerous, but working accidents on busy highways poses a far greater risk to victims as well as emergency workers.

“We are very fortunate that the individuals did not have more extensive injuries. The placement of the ambulance on the roadway provided potentially lifesaving protection for the employees working the scene,” Haddock added.

The 2001 Freightliner Ambulance sustained heavy damage.

Preliminary reports indicate that the ambulance is a total loss, the release said, noting the estimated cost to replace the unit is about $160,000.