Woman in Crash With Ambulance Dies

GLENDALE — A Coachella Valley woman whose car was hit by a private ambulance early last week died Sunday from injuries suffered in the accident, according to Glendale police.

Wendy Parra, 20, had been in critical condition at County-USC Medical Center since last Tuesday afternoon. An American Medical Response ambulance ran a stop sign and broadsided her car at North Chevy Chase Drive and East California Avenue, police reported.

Glendale Police Sgt. Rick Young said investigators were still trying to determine the cause of the collision that also injured 21-year-old Benice Garcia and her 11-year-old brother, Eddie Heriperto.

“We have one more phase to complete in our investigation, which is a mechanical inspection of the ambulance,” Young said. “Once that’s done, the traffic investigator will submit his finding to the department.”

Young said that to date, no citations or charges have been issued in the accident.

Parra was attempting to make a left turn as she headed east on California Avenue when she was hit by the ambulance headed south on Chevy Chase. The ambulance, which was not on an nonemergency call, was not using its lights or siren, police said.

The ambulance driver and a heart patient traveling in the ambulance suffered minor injuries.