Two paramedics and patient die after ambulance crash in N.B.

Two paramedics and a patient from Prince Edward Island were killed on Tuesday when an ambulance collided with a transport truck in rural New Brunswick, just west of the Confederation Bridge.

The 56-year-old male driver of the ambulance, a 77-year-old woman and a 23-year-old woman died at the scene, New Brunswick RCMP said in a statement.

Health PEI confirmed that those killed were two Island EMS paramedics and a patient.

RCMP said they believe the westbound ambulance collided head-on with the truck on Route 16, in Melrose, N.B., on Tuesday morning a few kilometres from the bridge that links New Brunswick to P.E.I. They say the cause of the crash is under investigation.

The driver of the transport truck was transferred to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz said in a statement that “all Islanders are grieving,” adding the three deaths “left our entire province in shock and mourning.”

Lantz said the paramedics dedicated themselves to caring for others and “chose a profession built on compassion, courage, and service, answering the call whenever Islanders needed them most.”

“Prince Edward Island is a small province, and losses like this are felt deeply. Today, we stand together in grief,” the premier said.

Members of Sackville RCMP responded to a report of a two-vehicle collision at about 9:11 a.m. on Tuesday morning, Cpl. Luc Picard said in an email. Both the ambulance and the transport truck have been sent for a mechanical inspection, Picard wrote.

An RCMP collision reconstructionist and members of the New Brunswick Coroner services and several provincial government departments also attended the scene, Picard said.

Route 16 remained closed Tuesday afternoon, he said.