SP probes accidents involving ambulances
LINGAYEN—The provincial board decided to probe road accidents involving the ambulances of government-owned hospitals.
The Aug. 12 accident that led to the deaths of two patients and the injury of seven other passengers was the second incident involving brand new ambulances.
Fourth District Board Member Jeremy Agerico Rosario led the investigation of officials of Manaoag Community Hospital (MCH) headed by Dr. Donn Doria on the circumstances surrounding the mishap involving a four-month old Toyota Hi-Ace GL ambulance along Barangay Malabago, Mangaldan town en route to Region I Medical Center in Dagupan City around 9:45 a.m.
The ambulance had nine passengers at that time that included two patients, Rodrigo Caldito, 86, from Laoac who was suffering from pneumonia and Erlinda Tabadero, 64, from Manaoag town who had fourth stage breast cancer and congestive heart failure, who were being transported to Dagupan City because MCH could not accommodate them.
The ambulance hit a parked truck and a wall.
The purpose of the inquiry is to set guidelines specifically for drivers of ambulances.
The ambulance that figured in the accident cost the government P2.3-million and it
was the second newly-acquired ambulance of the provincial government that figured in an accident. The first was assigned to Dasol Community Hospital.
Rosario pointed out that there are two types of running an ambulance, one is the non-emergency situation, and the other, emergency situation.
He noted that the overloaded ambulance was running at high speed when it didn’t have to. “We seldom see an ambulance running in safe driving mode,” Rosario, also a medical doctor, said. Let this serve as a lesson to all,” Mr. Rosario told Doria.
“Ambulance drivers must not be abusive of their rights on the road.“ he added. (Tita Roces)
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