23-year-old paramedic Nicholas Theofilis died late Sunday night after he was found in cardiac arrest after crashing the ambulance he was driving into traffic in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Shadyside. Two other vehicles were hit, resulting in multiple injuries. There was no patient aboard the ambulance, however a passenger in front was seriously injured.
Nicholas Theofilis served in two community EMS squads and was a volunteer fireman.
Devastating news this morning—the driver for a Penn Hills EMS unit has died after a crash involving at least one other car. 3 people total were taken to the hospital, per @PghPublicSafety. 2 other victims are listed as stable. I’ll have details on @WTAE 4:30-7a. pic.twitter.com/rTojP3z4vK
— Tori Yorgey WTAE (@toriyorgeytv) November 28, 2022
UPDATE | Penn Hills EMS confirms 23yo Nicholas Theofilis was the victim who died in a car crash last night. He was a paramedic for Penn Hills/White Oak EMS, & a firefighter for Rosedale VFD. He was on the job driving an ambulance when the crash happened. @WTAE Photo: T. Lantry pic.twitter.com/U55pAQZDOe
— Tori Yorgey WTAE (@toriyorgeytv) November 28, 2022
An early report by TribLive stated the accident was a result of the ambulance driver having a medical emergency (excerpt):
Penn Hills paramedic dies after crashing ambulance while suffering medical emergency
Pittsburgh Public Safety officials have identified the first responder who died after the Penn Hills ambulance he was driving collided with another vehicle in Shadyside while suffering an apparent heart attack, according to authorities.
Paramedic Nicholas A. Theofilis of Penn Hills was driving along 5th and Morewood avenues shortly after 11 p.m. when he suffered a medical emergency and collided with another vehicle, Pittsburgh Public Safety officials said in a news release.
First responders found Theofilis in “life-threatening condition” when they arrived and transported him to a hospital where he later died, authorities said.
A man who was a front-seat passenger in the ambulance suffered a head injury, cuts on his face and a possible concussion, public safely officials said.
While public safety officials said appeared that Theofilis died after suffering cardiac arrest, the cause and manner of his death will be determined by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner, police said.
Pittsburgh Public Safety statement on the accident (excerpt):
UPDATE: Serious Collision in Shadyside Sends Three Patients to the Hospital
Date: November 27, 2022EMS, Fire and Police responded to reports of a three vehicle crash involving a Penn Hills medic unit and a vehicle at 5th Avenue and Morewood Avenue just after 11 p.m.
Pittsburgh EMS found the male driver of the Penn Hills medic unit in cardiac arrest. Medic 9 transported him to the hospital in life-threatening condition. He was later pronounced deceased in the hospital.
The male passenger in the medic unit suffered head trauma, facial lacerations, and a possible concussion. Medic 14 transported him in stable condition.
The driver of the vehicle was complaining of abdominal pain and Medic 12 took him to the hospital in stable condition. A third vehicle was struck as a result of the initial collision. No one was injured.
There were no patients in the ambulance at the time of the crash.
The Collision Investigation Unit was requested to investigate.
Report by WTAE-TV shows Theofilis was well liked and dedicated to serving his community.
More from WTAE (excerpt):
Tristen Marriotti is another long-time friend of Theofilis feeling the heaviness after his death, “Nick’s passion was definitely helping people. He would go out of his way for anybody. He helped me through a really rough time.”
Theofilis, 23, was a paramedic for Penn Hills/White Oak EMS and a firefighter for Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department in Penn Hills.
The Penn Hills EMS supervisor described Theofilis as someone who did a lot for the community. She said he worked hard by spending time in Oklahoma training to be able to work back in the place he called home: Penn Hills.
The ‘bio’ for a Twitter account by Theolilis dormant since 2015 when he was in high school read, “class of 2017, NJROTC, Jr. firefighter, Greek. always there for others.”
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