Unbelievable Traffic Fiasco Unfolds in Maple Grove, MN: Three Drivers Absurdly Use Ambulance as a Red-Light Excuse, Ending Up Stuck in Middle of Intersection

Their gamble to enter the intersection despite an approaching ambulance blew up in their faces in the most embarrassing way possible.

Presumed Minnesota resident and Redditor /u/MettleC posted up dashcam footage from earlier last year (Dec 24, 2023) to the /r/IdiotsInCars subreddit showing the boneheaded movement a group of cars entered an intersection despite an approaching ambulance and a red light.

Check out /u/MettleC’s dashcam vid below.

[OC] Multiple people running a red light and sitting in the middle of the intersection after ambulance passes through in oncoming traffic.
byu/MettleC inIdiotsInCars

This incident happened at the intersection of County Rd 561 and Hemlock Ln in Maple Grove (exact location on Google Maps linked here.)

As OP’s dashcam footage shows, he’s in the far left lane preparing to turn left onto Hemlock Ln.

Off in the distance, we can see an ambulance clearly approaching in the opposite direction.

A driver in a Chevrolet Trailblazer chances it and makes his turn before the ambulance gets there.

The ambulance passes but, confusedly, drivers in a KIA EV6, Jeep Wrangler, and, VW Tiguan follow the Trailblazer and try to turn on red despite counter traffic having the green light (the right of way.)

Well, they’re now stuck in the middle of the intersection like sitting ducks, stopped, to prevent getting hit by approaching traffic.

Geniuses, the lot of them.

Fortunately, they find some gaps in traffic and squeeze their way through.

“”What? I had to stop to let that d**n ambulance through – I’m just making up my turn!” – the idiots, probably, /u/HeadacheCentral commented.

In basic traffic laws that seems not to be so common in this situation, when an ambulance is approaching, your immediate priority is to avoid creating additional obstacles for the emergency vehicle.

That typically means safely pulling to the right.

If, you’re like these three lane turners, and it’s not practical (or safe) to pull to the right, just stay in your current lane.

Most importantly, do not block the intersection!

Running a red light in Minnesota is punishable by a fine up to $300 before fees, not to mention points.

And, if they got into an accident, their insurance premium would see a healthy increase, too.

Saving a couple seconds by “gaming” an ambulance is not worth it.

Pause, and either pull to the right or stay put.

Don’t take advantage of an ambulance or, worse, cause an obstacle for them.