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Ambulance driver had texted on run
Albany fire official was told of incident by paramedic who was alleged witness

By CAROL DeMARE, Staff writer
First published in print: Friday, January 30, 2009

NISKAYUNA — The driver of the ambulance that ran into a snowbank earlier this week had been cautioned recently by an Albany firefighter about text messaging while driving, an official said Thursday.
     
Deputy Albany Fire Chief Frank Nerney said his firefighter noticed that the Mohawk Ambulance Service driver in Tuesday's Niskayuna accident was the same driver the firefighter saw texting while she was transporting a patient to an Albany hospital.

Nerney said he called a Mohawk manager "and told him of the incident. I don't know what Mohawk did. I reported it to them, and they were investigating. I don't know what the investigation revealed."

Tom Nardacci, spokesman for Mohawk Ambulance, said Thursday the driver, Joanna McKinley, is no longer employed by the company. He declined to discuss it further, saying it was a personnel matter. He also cited the ongoing police investigation in which the company was cooperating.

McKinley, 29, of Waterford, was ticketed for following too closely after the accident on Balltown Road near Union Street, Niskayuna police spokesman Sgt. Daniel McManus said. The ambulance was on a non-emergency trip, transporting a woman patient, he said.

The vehicle swerved to the right to avoid a car ahead and ended up against a snowback, McManus said.

Following too closely would be a violation of Mohawk's safety policies, Nardacci said.

Nerney, who is in.....................http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=765137