Taeylor, did you flashback to the '91 series' pilot when the ambulance/paramedics were there to deal with TVD's Vicki after her attack in the woods. That scene from the '91 series was definitely the first thing that went through my mind.
And I also thought that the opening attack of the girl on the road was reminiscent of Carolyn's attack in the '04 pilot. Not that I'm accusing TVD of ripping off DS - I mean, there are bound to be similarities. What's interesting about TVD, though - and very different from DS - was that almost immediately upon waking up in the hospital, Vicki remembered that she was attacked by a vampire and actually told her brother as much. That's something the victims on no version of DS ever did...