PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WSAZ) -- More than 100 stunned Portsmouth ambulance workers said they lost their jobs when the company unexpectedly shut down Thursday night.

The shutdown resulted from a failed buyout, and there's a concern that several communities will not have adequate emergency service.

Neighboring Greenup County, Ky., officials have issued emergency orders to keep ambulances running. Meanwhile, former employees said the struggling company -- maybe two companies -- illegally left them without severance, paychecks, or a real reason why.

"We were told we were MTS employees and had job security," said Michael Vermillion who's an emergency medical technician.

MTS CEO Chuck Williams said his company only went into a caretaking agreement with Portsmouth Ambulance, pending a purchase of assets. The sale and contracted partnership, however, both fell through this week.

"Due to liability issues, we had to step out of the management agreement and cease employee services and equipment," Williams said.

Kim Craft, an EMT, said, "There are 100 runs a day that aren't being covered."

The Greenup 911 director said an emergency order has Life Ambulance now covering the area. MTS officials said they can and are covering the Greenup County region.

As to why the Portsmouth Ambulance and MTS deal fell through, Craft said, "tax liens and non-payments."

Vermillion said, "If one company was doing books for the other, that's shady bookkeeping."

MTS said it immediately started hiring the out-of-work Portsmouth employees and will continue to do so. Workers disagreed, however, saying it was a selected few -- not the majority.

Our investigation at the Scioto County Clerk of Courts revealed that Portsmouth Ambulance owes more than $200,000 in court judgments and has recently paid out more than $250,000 in workers compensation and individual judgments.

Dr. Tim Wheeler and Kenny Boggs, the president and vice president, respectively, of the Portsmouth Ambulance Board did not return our repeated calls for comment.

Original story
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WSAZ) -- People in Portsmouth may have to wait a few extra minutes for an ambulance after a sudden shutdown of service Thursday evening.

The MTS ambulance company thought it had a deal worked out to buy Portsmouth Ambulance Incorporated, but the deal fell through this week.

Portsmouth Ambulance was taken over by local investors in 2006, and one of those investors told WSAZ.com it's been a losing venture.

For now, the company is trying to pay nearly 100 employees and maintain its fleet of 52 vehicles.

Meanwhile, the other company, MTS, plans to set up shop in town with or without Portsmouth Ambulance Incorporated.

WSAZ's Randy Yohe is in Portsmouth today looking into this story. will have more information on this story later tonight. on news channel three at six.