The West Australian
PINJARRA, Australia — German backpacker lying in the middle of the road was run over by an ambulance at the weekend, leaving him in a critical condition in hospital.
The man was struck by the vehicle on Pinjarra Road just before 1am on Saturday.
Police are waiting to interview the 19-year-old who arrived in the country less than two weeks ago to find out why he was on the road in semi-rural Barragup, east of Mandurah.
They also want to speak to the teenager’s friends.
His family in Germany has been contacted.
The St John ambulance was returning from Peel Health Campus and heading to Pinjarra. Mandurah Sgt Peter Williams said the ambulance driver only saw the man when it was too late to avoid him.
They didn’t see him until they were 20 feet from him. They braked but they were unable to avoid hitting him, Sgt Williams said.
We don’t know why he was lying on the road. We are still making inquiries and we won’t know until he has recovered enough to interview him.
The backpacker was trapped under the vehicle and the paramedics had to jack up the ambulance to free him.
They administered first aid at the scene and the man was flown to Royal Perth Hospital.
Sgt Williams said the ambulance was travelling at 70km/h in an 80km/h zone.
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