Swift-flowing water swept an ambulance, and its passengers, into rain-swollen Antelope Creek in Morgan County on Sunday.
The Byers Fire and Rescue ambulance was attempting to rendezvous with the Morgan County Ambulance service to transfer a patient when it was carried into the normally dry creek.
The incident happened at about 5 a.m.
The Byers ambulance “tried to cross an intersection at Morgan County roads 4 and D. They went through water that was a little too swift and a little too high and were swept off the road,” said Travis Bailey, a firefighter with the Wiggins Rural Fire Protection District.
Fast water carried the ambulance — with the patient, one passenger and three firefighters — about 100 yards downstream, Bailey said.
The vehicle turned 180 degrees before coming to rest. Those aboard were able to leave through the back doors.
“Everybody was able to make it out of the vehicle with no injuries due to the accident,” Bailey said.
The patient was able to walk, and the group traveled about a mile through the snow by foot to reach the Morgan County and Wiggins Rural Fire ambulances.
They were taken to Colorado Plains Medical Center in Fort Morgan for treatment. “Potentially, there is hypothermia. They were exposed to the outdoors for 30 to 45 minutes,” Bailey said.
Heavy rains and snow over the past few days sent the normally dry creek spilling over its banks.
The vehicle remained caught on a bank in up to 8 feet of water, where it will probably stay for several days until the water subsides, Bailey said.
Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671, tmcghee@denverpost.com or
