A routine emergency response turned into a terrifying street disaster in the Czech city of Cheb on Friday, after an ambulance failed to yield at an intersection, collided with a car, and sent the vehicle flying onto a sidewalk full of children.
Police confirmed that six people — including four children — were injured in the chaotic crash.
Ambulance Had Lights On — But No Siren
According to police spokesman Jakub Kopřiva, the ambulance was traveling on a side road with its lights activated but no audible siren, a critical detail in the investigation.
“The ambulance entered the intersection from a secondary road and did not yield to a vehicle on the main road,” Kopřiva said. The impact hurled the personal vehicle onto a sidewalk, directly into a group of eight-year-olds walking with their teachers.
Four Children Hospitalized
Emergency services rushed to the scene with three rescue crews, including one with a physician.
“The four children — all around eight years old — suffered injuries and were transported to Cheb Hospital,” said Simona Kratochvílová, spokesperson for the Karlovy Vary emergency service.
The ambulance paramedics themselves were not spared.
“One of our colleagues received a minor injury and was taken to the surgical department for treatment,” Kratochvílová added.
The driver of the car also sustained light injuries.
Ambulance Was Responding to a Call
Authorities confirmed the ambulance had been en route to a medical emergency when the collision happened. Despite having its lights activated, Czech traffic law requires ambulances to use both lights and sirens when failing to yield would endanger other vehicles.
Police are now working to reconstruct the events, interview witnesses, and determine whether procedural errors or driver negligence played a role.
A Community Shaken
Residents of Cheb were left stunned by the sight of injured children on the pavement — an incident that raises serious questions about emergency driving protocols.
As investigations continue, parents and teachers are calling for stricter oversight to ensure that vehicles responding to emergencies don’t create new ones.