Nine people injured including a newborn after ambulance rolls over in crash
Just after sunrise in Dougherty County, the usually busy intersection at Pine Avenue and Monroe Street turned into one of the most chaotic scenes the community had witnessed in years. What began as a routine emergency transport ended in a violent, multi-vehicle crash that left an ambulance overturned in the middle of the roadway and nine people injured — among them, a newborn child who had been in the care of paramedics at the time.
The ambulance had been traveling with urgency, carrying two patients and three EMS personnel when the collision happened. Witnesses said the impact was so forceful that the vehicle rolled completely, landing on its side with its lights still flashing. Metal scraped along the pavement, glass shattered across the intersection, and the shocked cries of bystanders erupted as they rushed toward the wreckage but were held back by the danger of leaking fluids and unstable vehicles. A moment earlier, the ambulance was racing to help. Now it needed help itself.
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Within minutes, sirens from every direction filled the air as additional emergency units swarmed the site. Firefighters worked to stabilize the overturned ambulance, while paramedics forced their way inside to reach the trapped occupants. The presence of a newborn child heightened the urgency, and even the most experienced responders admitted later that the sight of an infant in the wreck brought a jolt of fear unlike anything else.
Inside the mangled vehicle, the situation was tense but not hopeless. EMS personnel already inside had shielded the baby as much as possible during the rollover, using their own bodies to absorb the violent motion. Their quick instincts made a difference. By the time rescuers managed to extract everyone from the ambulance and place them onto stretchers, all nine victims were alive and able to be transported for further evaluation.
At the hospital, doctors moved rapidly to assess injuries, running scans and monitoring vital signs. The newborn, fragile and vulnerable, was immediately prioritized. Miraculously, no life-threatening injuries were found. The infant remained under observation as a precaution, but physicians emphasized that the outcome could have been far worse. The EMS crew, though shaken and bruised, showed the same resilience they display daily in the field. Their dedication didn’t falter — some even assisted in their own treatment, asking about the others involved before themselves.
Dougherty County EMS Director James Gibney expressed deep relief, praising the professionalism and courage of the first responders while acknowledging the emotional toll that such an accident carries. He emphasized that emergency protocols worked exactly as they should have: units were dispatched within seconds, coordination was smooth, and every victim received immediate medical attention. His message to the public conveyed both gratitude and reassurance — despite the terrifying scene, the county’s emergency network held strong.
Still, relief doesn’t erase the questions. Residents want to know how a crash involving an ambulance — a vehicle built for safety, staffed with highly trained professionals, and usually given the right of way — unfolded so violently. Authorities have not released details on the sequence of events, and speculation is circulating among those who witnessed the aftermath. Some reported seeing another vehicle speeding through the intersection. Others believe traffic congestion or a misinterpreted signal may have contributed. The intersection is well known for its steady flow of drivers at all hours, and community members have voiced safety concerns before.
The Georgia State Patrol has now opened a full investigation. Troopers will review surveillance footage from nearby businesses, analyze skid marks and impact points, and examine each vehicle involved for mechanical issues. They’ll conduct interviews with the EMS crew, the other victims, and any witnesses who saw what happened in those critical seconds. Only after the full picture emerges will the public get clarity.
While investigators work, the community has already begun absorbing the emotional weight of the incident. News of the newborn’s involvement spread quickly, drawing expressions of concern from across Dougherty County. Messages poured into local social media groups offering prayers, support, and gratitude toward the first responders who acted decisively in a moment of crisis. Even those far removed from the accident felt the collective exhale when hospital officials confirmed there were no deaths.
h is a stark reminder of how fragile the work of emergency responders can be. They spend their lives rushing toward danger, often with no regard for their own vulnerability. An ambulance is meant to be a symbol of hope — flashing lights, quick action, trained hands ready to save lives. Yet in a single instant, even that symbol can become part of the tragedy itself. It’s a reality EMS workers understand more deeply than most: every call brings risk, every transport demands trust in both their skills and the unpredictable conditions of the road.
For the families of the victims, the coming days will be filled with medical appointments, monitoring, and processing what happened. For the EMS crew, there will be paperwork, debriefings, and the stubborn push to return to duty despite the trauma of the crash. For the community, it will be a period of watching the investigation unfold while hoping that safety improvements or policy changes may come from the findings.
People who live near Pine Avenue and Monroe Street say the intersection has long needed stronger protections — clearer signals, stricter enforcement, or infrastructure changes to reduce the risk of high-impact collisions. Whether or not the investigation leads to such changes remains to be seen, but the urgency is now impossible to ignore.
Yet out of the chaos, one thing stands out: resilience. The resilience of paramedics who instinctively shielded a newborn. The resilience of bystanders who rushed forward despite fear. The resilience of doctors who worked swiftly to prevent hidden injuries from becoming dangerous. And the resilience of a small community that, once again, showed how quickly people can band together when life takes an unexpected turn.
For now, officials urge patience. Answers will come, but they must be accurate and grounded in evidence. Until then, Dougherty County holds tight to the relief that everyone survived — especially the tiniest life that had no way of understanding the danger surrounding it.