Patient who exited moving ambulance dies on I-95 in Port St. Lucie; paramedic injured

ST. LUCIE COUNTY ― A man being transported in an ambulance on Interstate 95 Tuesday night exited the back of the emergency vehicle as it was moving, fell onto the highway, was hit by several vehicles and died, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

What happened?: FHP investigators said the ambulance was traveling south on I-95 near West Midway Road in Port St. Lucie around 9 p.m. Tuesday when the patient, a 70-year-old man from Jacksonville, exited the rear doors of the ambulance.

The man fell to the road as the ambulance was moving and was struck by multiple vehicles including a 2023 Kia sedan and a 2020 Volvo tractor, according to the FHP.

A 29-year-old paramedic inside the vehicle attempted to stop the man from leaving and fell out of the ambulance while doing so.

The ambulance driver, a 38-year-old woman from Orange Park, stopped on the southbound outside shoulder.

What injuries were there? The 70-year-old died. The paramedic, also of Jacksonville, had life-threatening injuries and was transported to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce. No one else was injured.

Did anyone who hit the man stop? FHP investigators reported that all the vehicles continued south and did not stop. However, the Kia and tractor returned.

A 24-year-old man of Port St. Lucie was driving the Kia sedan and returned to the crash scene with a 27-year-old male passenger. A 44-year-old man of Forest Hills, New York, was driving the tractor and also returned, FHP investigators said.

Ambulance not from St. Lucie County: The ambulance was not of the St. Lucie County Fire District, said Brenda Smith, a fire district spokesperson.

FHP and the fire district did not know where the ambulance was based or its destination.

The FHP does not release the names of anyone involved in crashes.

Under Investigation: The man's death on I-95 is still an open investigation, according to FHP. Anyone who has information on the incident or was involved in the crash is asked to contact the highway patrol's Troop L Fort Pierce station at 2929 North 25th St., or call 772-468-3967.

More:Jason Aldean calls Florida home; buys $10.2 million Florida mansion in Martin County

More:Fort Pierce quiet around federal courthouse as Trump property manager De Oliveira enters plea

More:Florida jellyfish invasion: How long will moon jellies keep surfers, swimmers from ocean?

Mauricio La Plante is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow him on Twitter @mslaplantenews or email him at mauricio.laplante@tcpalm.com.