Firefighters Hurt, Man Arrested After Car Hits Ambulance in Napa County

Two Lake County firefighters were injured when the ambulance in which they were transferring a patient was struck by a passenger vehicle in Napa County Friday night, according to CalFire Capt. Jim Lovie.

The victims, who were transporting a patient from Lake County to St. Helena Hospital, suffered minor injuries in the crash on Highway 29, north of St. Helena, Lovie said.

The ambulance was southbound on Highway 29 on Mount St. Helena, when a northbound car driven by a woman crossed over the double-yellow line and hit the ambulance, Lovie said.

The vehicle grazed the side of the ambulance, he said.

The firefighters were taken by ambulance to St. Helena’s Hospital, where they were treated and released; the patient inside the ambulance was strapped to a gurney and was not injured, Lovie said.

The driver of the Nissan, Jennifer Pena of Petaluma, was uninjured in the collision, according to CHP Sgt. W. Bradshaw.

Her passenger, Leon Sauvageau, was found to be in possession of marijuana and a hypodermic needle, Bradshaw said.

Sauvageau, 35, admitted to being the owner of the pot and was arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana. 

According to booking records from the Napa County Department of Corrections, Sauvageau was also booked on suspicion of transporting marijuana for sale, possessing concentrated cannabis (hash) and possessing a hypodermic needle.

Arrest information does not indicate a conviction.

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