Ambulance driver allegedly takes sleep medication hours before roll-over crash

BOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) - Charges against a an ambulance driver were amended to a charge of wanton endangerment, after a crash in July.

The Boyd County Sheriff’s Office says a NetCare ambulance rolled in a single-vehicle accident along U.S. 23 near the Lawrence County line.

The driver was originally arrested under suspicion of DUI.

A medical transport early Saturday morning ended with the driver of an ambulance in handcuffs and in the back of a law enforcement cruiser.

The Boyd County Sheriff’s Office says a NetCare ambulance rolled in a single-vehicle accident along U.S. 23 near the Lawrence County line around 2 a.m. Saturday.

The driver, patient and a caregiver in the back were unharmed in the incident.

Initially, the driver told officers a deer ran out in front of the vehicle, but deputies say the story kept changing.

Those documents say the driver told deputies he took several sleeping pills about four hours before being dispatched to take a transport run.

The citation says they stated they tried to refuse taking the transport call, because he didn’t believe he should be driving-- however, he stated he was told by a dispatcher he had to take the transport.

Officials conducted a field sobriety test and arrested the driver under suspicion of DUI.

The Boyd County Sheriff’s Office says the driver could be facing additional charges once the investigation is complete.