Forest Lake ambulance crash: Driver distracted when he hit stalled truck on I-35

Chaotic ambulance crash in Forest Lake

The Minnesota State Patrol says an M Health Fairview ambulance driver was distracted when he crashed into a truck on the side of a highway in Forest Lake. FOX 9’s Mike Manzoni has the latest details, and dramatic video.

FOREST LAKE, Minn. (FOX 9) - Dramatic video shows the moment an ambulance crashed into a stalled truck on the side of a busy highway in Forest Lake on Wednesday.

Ambulance crashes into stalled truck on I-35

What we know:

A Minnesota Department of Transportation camera recorded the ambulance veering off I-35 and slamming into the back of a pickup truck that was stopped on the shoulder. The impact sent the truck through a guardrail while the ambulance spun in the middle of fast-moving traffic.

State Patrol investigators said the ambulance driver was distracted at the time of the crash. The driver, Joshua Pusch, 22, received a citation.

After the crash, video shows one of the two people in the ambulance getting out of the passenger side door. Seconds later, the other person exits from the driver’s side. Other drivers are then seen running up to the scene and heading toward the mangled truck.

The only person in the truck was an 18-year-old woman from North Branch. State troopers said she did not need to go to the hospital.

According to the citation report, "distraction was a contributing factor," but "Pusch would not specify the source of the distraction."

Response from M Health Fairview

What they're saying:

In a statement on Tuesday night, M Health Fairview said: "We are reviewing the incident and remain focused on the safety of the communities we serve and our team members."