Pedestrian dies after being pinned between ambulances in Germantown

An ambulance operator tried to stop one of the vehicles from rolling backwards but hit the accelerator instead, police say

An ambulance worker was killed Saturday morning in Germantown after being pinned between two emergency vehicles. The accident occurred at approximately 10:10 a.m. on the 200 block of West Chelten Avenue, police say. This is a file photo.
Jonathan Cooper/Pexels

An ambulance worker was killed Saturday morning in Germantown after being pinned between two emergency vehicles.

The accident, involving a 2019 Ford private ambulance and a 2020 Ford private ambulance, occurred at approximately 10:10 a.m. on the 200 block of West Chelten Avenue, police say. 


MORE: Father drowns, son rescued at unguarded Ocean City beach


A private ambulance crew was on scene transporting a patient in the 2019 Ford, and a second private ambulance crew was on location with the 2020 Ford to assist with loading and unloading the patient.

The 2020 Ford was unoccupied and parked behind the 2019 Ford, which was stopped with the operator sitting behind the wheel as his co-workers prepared to unload the patient.

Police say the operator exited the vehicle, at which point it began rolling backwards. Once the operator realized it was in reverse, he got back in to stop the vehicle but instead depressed the accelerator.

The 2019 Ford quickly backed up, crushing the pedestrian between both ambulances. The pedestrian was transported by a PFD-Medic unit to Albert Einstein Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 11:05 a.m.

Police identified the victim as 32-year-old Nisha Jaia Renee Dash, a co-worker of the ambulance operator. 

The investigation is active and ongoing within the Accident Investigation Division.


Follow Franki & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @wordsbyfranki | @thePhillyVoice
Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice
Have a news tip? Let us know.