First Look: Ambulance involved in fatal accident

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – The NC Highway Patrol has charged the driver of an ambulance with a misdemeanor charge after a fatal accident Monday morning.

According to authorities, 19-year-old Sarah Allen of Oak Island died Monday night from injuries sustained in the accident.

"Sarah was a beautiful child, she loved college, she had so many friends, so many friends," Sarah's mother, Debra Allen, said as she tried to fight back tears.  "She will be truly missed by her family."

Highway Patrol officers say an Ameritech Ambulance ran a red light at the intersection of Highway 17 and Frontage Drive around 9:30 Monday morning and hit Allen's Mazda Protege.  Sarah was headed to class at Brunswick Community College.

EMS had to cut Allen out of her car and she was flown to New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

Sarah's co-workers were the first to learn of her accident, and a group of them drove to the hospital to be by her side.  They said the young woman was turning her life around after some troubled teen years.

Joseph Fancher, of Southport, was driving the ambulance, transporting a patient.  He did not have emergency lights on and did not stop for the red light, according to troopers.

Officials say the ambulance was not required to run any type of emergency equipment, like the sirens or lights, because Fancher was transporting a non-emergency patient.

The District Attorney's Office decided Tuesday to charge Fancher with misdemeanor death by vehicle.

Sarah's family doesn't care to talk about the ambulance driver who ran the red light and struck their daughter's vehicle.  They know the justice system can't bring Sarah back and just want to remember all the good things her friends and family have to say about her.

"She had a great laugh.  Everybody in here has been hearing her laugh all day," said Carson, one of Sarah's co-workers.

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