Ambulance Dispatched from Staten Island to Assist Elderly Woman in a Manhattan Street; FDNY Investigating

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Fire Department of New York is investigating why an ambulance on Staten Island was dispatched to assist an 88-year-old woman who had collapsed on a midtown Manhattan street.

Fire officials say it took nearly an hour for the ambulance to arrive. The woman was taken to a nearby hospital and is expected to recover. Her name was not released.

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum says the city failed to help the woman in a timely manner.

FDNY spokesman Tony Sciafani says the delay was unacceptable. He says the department carefully coordinates its resources.

The woman collapsed last Thursday as she tried to cross at East 55th Street and Lexington Avenue. She injured her head and back.