ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 21, 1996 TAG: 9603210083
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BETTY HAYDEN
A Blacksburg rescue squad crew en route to a call collided with a minivan Wednesday afternoon, causing about $35,000 in damage to the ambulance.
The accident occurred just after 2 p.m. at Prices Fork and Toms Creek roads, not far from the Virginia Tech campus, Blacksburg Police said.
After the initial crash, the minivan spun about 90 degrees to the right and the vehicles collided again, police said. The ambulance came to rest in the intersection; the minivan ended up in a grassy area.
No charges have been filed and police are asking for witnesses to help them piece together what happened.
James Sowder, captain of the Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad, was driving west on Prices Fork. Carlos L. Diaz, 20, of Blacksburg, was driving the minivan south on Toms Creek.
Sowder, 53, and his front-seat passenger, 23-year-old Sara Jensen, were wearing seat belts. Janice Lafon, 54, and Kyle Gurney, 21, were riding in the back of the ambulance. All suffered minor injuries and were released from Columbia Montgomery Regional Hospital.
Diaz, who police said was not wearing a seat belt, suffered head and facial injuries and later was released from Montgomery Regional.
Police said many people witnessed the accident, but so far only a few have come forward. Witnesses are asked to call police at 961-1150.
LENGTH: Short : 33 linesby CNB