Ambulance crash on snowy highway raises concerns about overnight emergency care in Tumbler Ridge

TUMBLER RIDGE, B.C. — Concerns have been raised in Tumbler Ridge regarding emergency care in the winter after an ambulance transporting a patient went off the road near the town.

According to BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), the crash occurred at approximately 3:45 p.m. on January 3rd, when an ambulance left the roadway in snowy conditions on Highway 52 north near Tumbler Ridge.

A second ambulance was dispatched to the scene and took over transporting the patient to hospital. BCEHS says neither the patient nor the two paramedics on board suffered significant injuries.

“The ambulance involved in the incident is being repaired, and a different ambulance from the BCEHS fleet is now in service in Tumbler Ridge,” said BCEHS paramedic public Information officer Brian Twaites in a statement to Energeticcity.ca.

Twaites said BCEHS has launched a review into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

“We take the safety of paramedics, patients and members of the public very seriously,” Twaites said.

 “As with any motor vehicle incident involving one of our ambulances, we have initiated a review of the circumstances of this incident and we will ensure that the paramedics involved in this incident are receiving the support they need as they recover.”

In an interview with CBC, Tumbler Ridge mayor Darryl Krakowka said the incident highlights broader concerns about emergency care in the community, particularly following cuts to local emergency services last fall.

“We’re a remote community in the mountains, this year with lots of snow,” Krakowka said. “We’re really putting people at risk here.”

Since September, Tumbler Ridge has been without overnight on-call emergency room services due to a doctor shortage. 

As a result, patients requiring after-hours emergency care are now transported by ambulance to Dawson Creek.

Krakowka said those involved in the January 3rd crash were fortunate the incident did not occur on a more hazardous stretch of highway.

Energeticcity.ca reached out to Krakowka for comment but did not receive a response before publication. This story will be updated if more information becomes available.