Three people travelling in a Prince Edward Island ambulance died Tuesday morning after the emergency vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with a transport truck near the Confederation Bridge in New Brunswick, according to RCMP.
The crash happened in Melrose, a community in Strait Shores located about 12 kilometres southwest of the bridge.
Victims Were From Prince Edward Island
New Brunswick RCMP confirmed that the three people who died were a 77-year-old woman from Montague, P.E.I., a 56-year-old man from Warren Grove, P.E.I., and a 23-year-old woman from Nine Mile Creek, P.E.I.
Police said all three died at the scene.
According to Island EMS, two of the victims were paramedics and the third was a patient in their care. Their names have not been released.
Transport Truck Driver Taken to Hospital
The transport truck driver was taken to hospital after the collision.
Police said the driver’s injuries are believed to be non-life-threatening.
The driver’s name and age have not been released.
Crash Happened Tuesday Morning
Members of the Sackville RCMP responded to the two-vehicle crash at about 9:11 a.m. AT on Tuesday.
RCMP said the 56-year-old man was driving the ambulance, while the other two victims were passengers.
Police believe the ambulance was travelling westbound when the collision occurred.
RCMP Investigation Continues
Codiac Regional RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Luc Picard said police are continuing to investigate the crash.
Both the ambulance and the transport truck were sent for mechanical inspection.
Picard said no further information will be released at this stage.
While the roundabout near Port Elgin has reopened, part of Route 16 near Melrose remains closed to traffic.
Island EMS Asks Public Not to Speculate
In a Facebook post Tuesday afternoon, Island EMS asked the public to avoid speculation about what happened.
The emergency service said the community should honour those affected with compassion and patience as families and colleagues face the difficult days ahead.
P.E.I. Premier Says Province Is Grieving
P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz described the collision as a tragic loss.
In a statement, he said “all Islanders are grieving” and noted that losses like this are deeply felt in a small province.
Lantz said the paramedics who died had dedicated their lives to helping others, with each shift beginning in the hope of supporting someone through one of the hardest moments of their life.
He also offered condolences to the family and loved ones of the patient who died while under their care.
Witness Saw Emergency Response
Local resident Jodi Boland, who lives on Route 16 near Upper Cape Road, said she saw smoke from her window Tuesday morning.
When she went outside, she saw two ambulances, two fire trucks and many police vehicles at the scene.
New Brunswick Paramedics Offer Support
Chris Hood, executive director of the Paramedic Association of New Brunswick, said it was a tragic day for everyone involved.
He said his organization is working to find ways for New Brunswick paramedics to help cover shifts in P.E.I.
The goal is to give Island paramedics who worked closely with the victims time to grieve and process the trauma.
Paramedic Community Mourns
Hood said paramedics are part of a close-knit profession.
He estimated New Brunswick has about 1,300 paramedics, while P.E.I. has between 150 and 200.
He said many paramedics may have gone to school together, spent time together outside work, and lived in the same communities.
Hood added that the crash highlights the risks that come with the profession.
The fatal ambulance crash near the Confederation Bridge has left Prince Edward Island and the wider first responder community in mourning. Two Island EMS paramedics and a patient died in the collision, while the transport truck driver was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. RCMP continue to investigate the cause of the crash, and both vehicles are undergoing mechanical inspections.