In September 2013, Angela Sanford and her husband Pat were driving home from a concert when their SUV was t-boned by a Leon County EMS ambulance.

"You hear people say your life can change in the blink of an eye, but you don't realize it until it happens to you," said Pat.

The ambulance was responding to a head-on collision at the intersection of Tharpe Street and Old Bainbridge Road when they crashed into the Sanford’s car at more than 40 miles per hour.

Deputies at the Leon County Sheriff’s Office said the ambulance was traveling on Tharpe Street with emergency lights and sirens activated. The ambulance approached the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and proceeded through, striking the SUV on the passenger’s side.

The ambulance veered off Route 20 in Duanesburg and hit a tree, causing Aernecke to suffer massive and fatal internal injuries, while the driver and an EMT traveling with them were both injured.

According to Mohawk Ambulance, the driver was eight hours into a 12-hour shift after 14 hours off. It was the driver's fifth call of the day.

The mood at the firehouse on Saturday certainly was celebratory, with dozens of fire fighters and hundreds of community members all gathered to see the christening of Engine 2, the brand spanking new apparatus at the firehouse.  Engine 2, a 2016 Pierce Velocity, top mounted pump, can pump 2000 gallons per minute and it holds 750 gallons of water. It will serve as the “first due” engine for all fire suppression related incidents.  

“It’s a real community event,” said Swanton, a 37-year member of the all-volunteer firehouse, “the community bought us this fire engine. We’d like them to come out and see what they bought us and show our appreciation.” Throughout the rest of the day and evening, different towns sent their fire trucks to spray the new engine to welcome it into the community. There was a DJ, a 50/50 raffle, a bouncy house and beer, soda and food, all compliments of the Fire Department.

Though Ashburner said she sustained some bumps and bruises, San Francisco Fire Department spokesman Lt. Jonathan Baxter said no one needed to be hospitalized.

The fire truck had minor damage from the “fender-bender,” and it did not need to be taken out of service for repairs, Baxter said.

The corner of the bike rack attached to the front of the bus hit the back of the truck, Rose said. The bus itself was not damaged.