Emergency medical technician whose arm was amputated........

NYC-EMS

Posted April 21, 2008

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Posted April 21, 2008

A Rockland emergency medical technician whose arm was amputated remained in intensive care yesterday with other serious injuries.

Bonnie Ames, 21, was hurt Monday when the Regional EMS rig she was a passenger in hit a truck parked on the shoulder of Route 59 in West Nyack.

Westchester Medical Center doctors continue to treat Ames, who remained under sedation following surgery to amputate her right arm, said Raymond Florida, Ames' boss at Regional EMS.

Florida said Ames' parents wanted her medical condition and the specifics concerning her other injuries to remain private.

"They are still taking tests and treating her serious injuries as best they can," said Florida, executive director of Rockland Paramedic Services and Regional EMS.

The rig's driver, Scott Millar, 19, of Haverstraw, is to be released from Westchester Medical Center today and will be transferred to Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw for rehabilitation, Florida said. Millar has a head injury and fractures to his lower back and neck, Florida said. He was to be released yesterday, but doctors decided he should go straight to Helen Hayes.

The accident shocked the emergency medical responders. Many of them are spending their time at work and at the hospital with Ames and her family. The Ames family is staying at a local hotel, paid for by Regional EMS.

Ames lives in the Orange County community of Florida, where she's been a volunteer firefighter and a volunteer with the Walkill Ambulance Corps. She's worked for Regional EMS for the past 18 months, as has Millar.

Clarkstown police were still investigating what caused the crash.

Millar was driving to Nyack Hospital to set up for the day when he went under the overpass to the Palisades Center, police said. The ambulance hit a flatbed Kamco Supply Corp truck parked on the shoulder, police said.

The truck driver, Sam Lalmahabir, 46, of Richmond Hill, Queens, told police he had pulled over to talk on his cell phone, Clarkstown Sgt. Harry Baumann said. The police were still looking to re-interview Millar.

Florida said he doesn't know what caused the crash and he was leaving the determination up to the police. He said the rig was monitored for speed. He said the electronic monitor indicated the vehicle didn't exceed the speed limit of 45 miles per hour along that section of Route 59.

"I know they were within the speed limit," Florida said. "We're cooperating with the investigation. We will let the professionals with the police determine what happened. Our main concern remains our people."