A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded early Sunday morning in Philadelphia, where an infant killed in ambulance crash has left a community shaken and authorities searching for answers.

Police say a privately operated ambulance carrying a sick child and their mother slammed into another vehicle at a busy Northeast Philadelphia intersection, a collision that turned a desperate race to the hospital into a devastating fatal accident.

Crash Occurs at Busy Northeast Philadelphia Intersection

According to investigators, the collision occurred around 5 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of Torresdale Avenue and Harbison Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia.

Authorities say the privately owned ambulance sped through a red light without lights or sirens activated, striking another vehicle that had the green light at the time.

The force of the impact was severe.

Police said the violent crash ejected both the infant and the child’s mother from the ambulance onto the roadway, turning the chaotic scene into a race against time for first responders.

Infant Pronounced Dead at Hospital

The child, identified as Marian Harris, was transported to a nearby hospital following the collision.

Despite emergency efforts, the infant was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Meanwhile, the child’s mother suffered severe head trauma and remains in critical condition, according to authorities.

Ambulance Driver Accused of DUI

Police say the ambulance driver—a 51-year-old man—was also transported to a hospital following the crash.

Investigators allege the driver was under the influence of alcohol, and officials say he will face DUI and related criminal charges.

The driver of the second vehicle involved in the collision declined medical treatment at the scene.

Emergency Call Preceded the Fatal Crash

Authorities revealed that the ambulance had been responding to a call involving an unresponsive infant.

Police say the call originated from the 6600 block of Ditman Street, where the mother and infant were picked up before the ambulance began transporting them toward the hospital.

What began as an urgent medical response quickly spiraled into a fatal roadway disaster.

Investigation Continues

Several details about the infant killed in ambulance crash remain unclear.

Officials have not yet released the age of the infant or the name of the ambulance driver, and investigators are continuing to examine what led to the deadly sequence of events.

Authorities say the crash remains under active investigation as detectives work to determine exactly how the tragedy unfolded.