Ambulance involved in 1 of 3 recent injury accidents

Poplar Bluff police officers responded in recent days to three vehicle accidents involving multiple injuries, including one involving an ambulance.

A Butler County EMS vehicle was traveling east on Kanell Boulevard at approximately 12:30 a.m. Sunday, June 21, when it was struck by a 2016 Nissan Altima, which failed to yield, according to police reports. The driver and a front seat passenger in the ambulance were taken by EMS to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center with injuries following the incident, which involved three vehicles.

The ambulance was traveling with lights and sirens activated, according to information provided to police officers at the scene.

Christopher Ray Marcum, 31, of the 1500 block of Cross Street was northbound on Shelby Road, when he failed to yield at the intersection and struck the ambulance, police reports state. Marcum had evident injuries at the accident site, but they were not reported as serious.

The ambulance was driven by Billy McGehee, 45, who was transported with suspected serious injuries, according to the report. McGehee had slowed at the intersection to check traffic before proceeding, police said.

A front seat passenger in the ambulance, Holly Bryant, 29, was also transported with injuries, which were not reported as serious.

A third vehicle was also involved in the accident, but occupants did not report injuries at the scene.

The impact of the accident pushed the ambulance into a westbound 2019 Dodge Ram, which was stopped in lane two on Kanell. The Ram was driven by Cary Alan Barks, 63, of the 100 block of Timber Cove.

Additional accidents occurred on June 24 and June 27, resulting in a total of three people transported by ambulance to PBRMC.

A 2013 Ford Focus failed to yield at a stop sign at approximately 8:30 p.m. June 24, at Valley and Benton streets, striking a 2009 Toyota Corolla, according to reports.

The Ford was driven by Brice Kaleem Allred, 23, of the 100 block of Begley.

Both occupants of the Corolla were transported with injuries.

The driver, Kenneth Lee Thomas, 56, of the 1000 block of Garfield reported head and back injuries and was taken by private vehicle. His passenger, Mary Lee Thomas, 56, reported pain in her right leg and side and was taken by ambulance.

On June 27, a 2002 Ford F350 failed to notice traffic stopped at a light in the eastbound lanes of Highway PP and struck the rear of a vehicle driven by Vickie L. Alexander, 61, of the 2600 block of Shady Lane. Both Alexander and a passenger, Zea H. Hawley, 31, were taken by ambulance to PBRMC with evident injuries, according to the report.