Patient, driver die as ambulance rams private bus, two injured

 The medical assistant on the ambulance and the woman’s daughter suffered serious injuries in the accident.Other ambulance drivers alleged that the vehicle already had break problems, but the officials did not repair it despite requests.

Late on Thursday night, Kanniyammal (75) of Yethanur village near Kancheepuram developed chest pain and was taken to Kancheepuram government hospital. As her condition was critical, she was referred to Chengalpattu Medical College Hospital. Accompanied by her daughter Saraswathi, Kanniyammal was taken to the hospital on a 108 ambulance driven by V Jayakumar (35) of Injambakkam. Dinakar, the medical assistant was also on board.

Around 3.40 am, when the ambulance tried to overtake a private staff bus near Aathur, Jayakumar lost control of the vehicle which rammed the rear of the bus. He died on the spot while Kanniyammal and others suffered severe injuries.

A police team from Chengalpattu taluk station arrived on the spot and admitted the injured to Chengalpattu GH where Kanniyammal was declared dead on the arrival. Dinakar was referred to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. Both him and Saraswati are undergoing treatment in critical condition, police said.

Following this, the 108 ambulance drivers gathered at the hospital and staged a protest. They alleged that the vehicle had problem with its brake, about which they have been complaining for the past 15 days. According to them, the officials should maintain the vehicles properly at least now, they demanded. The Chengalpattu taluk police have registered a case.