A paramedic is fighting for his life after an alleged drunk driver hit an ambulance in east Gatineau Wednesday morning.
Gatineau police charged a 29-year-old man with impaired driving causing bodily harm after his truck lost control and crashed head-on into an ambulance on Boulevard Maloney.
Police, who were called around 5:45 a.m., said 28-year-old paramedic Mathieu Danis was taken to hospital in critical condition with head injuries where he underwent emergency surgery.
"In those situations you can't do nothing," said Marc Paquette with Outaouais paramedics. "We're able to respond to those calls, but when it's one of your guys it's worse."
The other paramedic naned Bruno Petrin suffered serious injuries, but the pair were the only ones inside the ambulance.
"They've been on the team for about four years," said Paquette.
"One of the guys had light cuts and bruises, he should be released this afternoon. The other one lots of multiple fractures, head injury. We're still waiting to see what's going to happen with him."
A female passenger in the truck is also in critical condition, with the driver and second passenger listed in serious condition.
One local resident said the speed limit is too high on that stretch of road.
"Maybe the speed should be reduced not too far from here because there are a lot of houses," said Guy Charbonneau. "People live here so the limit is probably too high around here too."
If you have any information on the crash you can call Gatineau police at 819-243-2345 extension 7625.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's John Hua
