A Genesee Valley Emergency Medical Services EMT and the patient he was treating were injured when a motor vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with the York Ambulance vehicle. New York State Police investigators at Troop A, Batavia, said the accident occurred at 3:05 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2008 at the intersection of South Street Road and Rt. 20 in the Town of Pavilion, NY. 

   Bethany, Leroy and Caledonia Ambulances transported EMT Aloysius (Andy) Klein of Mumford, patient Dorothy Wall, age 85 and the driver of the vehicle that struck the ambulance, 22 year old Merica Micheaux of Lakeville to Strong Memorial Hospital. York Ambulance driver Jeremiah Farr, 27, was transported to United Memorial Hospital in Batavia. EMT Frederick Erbe, III was transported to Highland Hospital. Wall was listed in guarded condition. Farr and Erbe were treated and released. 

   Family members told the County News that Klein suffered a broken C-7 vertebrae but there is no spinal damage. He is in good condition at Strong Hospital and can move all of his limbs. He will be hospitalized for six weeks while the injury heals, his daughter, Andrea, said.

   "Daddy was essentially a ping pong ball inside of the ambulance, which rolled down an embankment from the impact of the collision," Klein explained, adding that her father is expected to recover fully, although it will be a slow process.

   Klein’s family said they are truly blessed by the outpouring from the community and concern for their husband and father. Klein and his wife, Joyce, have volunteered for 20 years with the Caledonia Ambulance and most recently with Genesee Valley Emergency Medical Services. He was part of the committee that successfully negotiated the development of Medic 77, an advanced life support fly car. He was on the January 3rd ambulance call as Medic 77 at the time of the accident. His wife, Joyce, says her husband’s business, Andy Klein Heating and Plumbing, remains open and employees will continue servicing customers with Klein himself able to oversee the business from his hospital bed.