By Mark Coddington
mark.coddington@theindependent.com

A semi driver hit an ambulance, then knocked down a stoplight pole at one of Grand Island's busiest intersections this morning.

Jeffrey Raitt, 46, of Schuyler was headed north on Highway 281 when he hit a city ambulance, eastbound on State Street, that had lights and siren on, said Capt. Robert Falldorf of the Grand Island Police Department.

He spun into a car stopped at a red light on State Street, then knocked out the northbound traffic signal for Highway 281 and a power box before landing in the intersection's northeast ditch.

Raitt, along with the ambulance's driver and two passengers and the woman driving the third car, were all taken to St. Francis Medical Center, where they were treated and released. No patients were being transported in the ambulance.

Raitt's semi caused $10,000 of damage to the ambulance, $20,000 to the traffic signal and $6,000 to the power box -- all city property. He also caused $20,000 of damage to his own truck and $1,000 to the third car.

He has been referred to the Hall County attorney's office for failure to yield right of way to an emergency vehicle, Falldorf said.

City Public Works Director Steve Riehle said he hopes to have a makeshift traffic signal with a red flashing light up by tonight. He hopes to have that signal changed over to a standard red, yellow and green signal by midweek.