I-25 crash victim's co-worker in shock

SANTA FE (KRQE) - Ambulance driver Vanessa Carrillo had just dropped off co-worker Jennifer Guhl and was heading back to Santa Fe when she was hit by a wrong-way driver.

"I couldn't believe it," said Guhl. "I was out the door in a heartbeat."

Guhl spent most of the day at UNM Hospital waiting to hear that her partner would be okay.

"Her legs were crushed, both of her legs," Guhl said. "This is going to be a long process to recovery."

Guhl said Carrillo, 19, also had bilateral femur, elbow and facial fractures. Carrillo spent between 4-6 hours in surgery. She is in critical but stable condition.

Guhl said she got the call soon after the the wrong-way driver traveling an estimated 100 mph slammed head-on into the ambulance on Interstate 25 in Santa Fe.

"It's extremely odd for an ambulance to be without two EMTs, so they were searching as to why there was only one EMT," she continued.

Carrillo has been working for Rocky Mountain EMS for two years. She is also a volunteer firefighter with the Santa Fe County Fire Department. Guhl said Carrillo is "extremely strong-willed, very intelligent, and well-known in the EMS community."

Guhl said she is still in shock and even feels guilty.

"I was her partner last night, and I should have been with her," she said.