MADISONVILLE, TN — Several people were hurt Tuesday afternoon when a Monroe County ambulance collided with another vehicle in Madisonville, according to the Madisonville Police Department. Officials said the ambulance was carrying a patient at the time of the crash.

Monroe County EMS Public Information Officer Cody Edwards said three EMS providers and the patient inside the ambulance suffered minor injuries. All four were taken to area hospitals for evaluation and treatment.

Authorities have not yet said whether anyone in the other vehicle was injured. The collision happened at about noon and prompted a response from emergency crews as investigators began working the scene.

Crash happened at New Highway 68 and Hillcrest around noon

Police said the wreck took place at the intersection of New Highway 68 and Hillcrest, a location that was expected to remain closed for several hours while crews cleared the area and examined what happened.

That shutdown was expected to affect traffic through the middle of the day and into the afternoon as responders handled both the medical response and the investigation. Officials described the scene as active while emergency personnel worked.

No details have been released yet about how the ambulance and the other vehicle came into contact, and officials have not said what direction either vehicle was traveling before the crash.

EMS workers and patient were sent to area hospitals

Edwards said the injured people from the ambulance were transported to nearby hospitals after the collision. He described their injuries as minor, but officials still wanted them checked by medical staff.

That included the patient being carried in the ambulance as well as the three EMS providers who were on duty. The transport to hospitals suggests responders treated the situation as more than a routine fender-bender even though the initial injuries were not considered severe.

No names have been released for those hurt, and officials have not provided ages or other identifying information. There was also no immediate update on their condition after arriving at the hospitals.

Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the collision

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is handling the investigation into the crash, according to officials. Local police said they were waiting on a preliminary report from troopers.

As of Tuesday evening, that report had not been made public. Investigators will likely review vehicle positions, roadway conditions and statements from witnesses or responders as they work to determine the cause.

Police have not announced whether any citations or charges are expected. They also have not said if weather, speed or driver error may have played a role.

Questions remain about the other vehicle and the wider impact

While officials confirmed injuries in the ambulance, they did not immediately say whether the occupants of the second vehicle were also hurt. That remains one of the biggest unanswered questions as the investigation continues.

The crash also raised the possibility of broader disruptions because the intersection was expected to stay closed for hours. For drivers in the area, that meant finding alternate routes while first responders secured the site.

For Monroe County EMS, the incident involved both a patient already needing care and the personnel responsible for transporting that patient. Local officials have not released any further information about the ambulance assignment or destination before the collision.

What officials have confirmed so far

At this point, officials have confirmed that the crash happened Tuesday around noon in Madisonville, involved a Monroe County ambulance and another vehicle, and left four people inside the ambulance with minor injuries.

They also confirmed that all four were taken to hospitals and that the intersection of New Highway 68 and Hillcrest was expected to remain shut down for several hours while the scene was investigated. The Tennessee Highway Patrol is leading that inquiry.

Beyond those basic facts, authorities are still working to fill in the details. The extent of any injuries in the other vehicle, and the precise cause of the wreck, have not yet been announced.