By Michael Howie
The Scotsman
Copyright 2006 The Scotsman Publications Ltd.
All Rights Reserved
An investigation was under way last night after an ambulance ran over a man’s body as it lay on a road.
Police believe the man had already been hit by another vehicle as he crossed the A9 in Stirlingshire, but said they could not be sure whether he was alive or dead when the emergency vehicle struck him. The accident happened just outside the village of Plean around 4:45 a.m. yesterday.
The ambulance was not on an emergency call at the time of the incident, but its crew did spot a car parked nearby with its hazard warning lights on. However, it left the scene as the ambulance approached.
A spokesman for Central Scotland Police said: “A car was seen in the area at the time, parked at the side of the road with hazard warning lights in operation. The car then drove off as the ambulance approached. The ambulance then struck the man’s body.”
Asked whether the man could have been alive when he was struck by the ambulance, one officer said: “That’s something we have to investigate.”
Police are appealing for the driver of the car to contact them and are also urging anyone else with information about the incident to get in touch.
The road was closed between Plean and the village of Torwood for much of yesterday following the incident. A one-mile diversion was in place on the usually busy road. However, police were able to reopen the route around 6pm last night.
A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said the vehicle had been taking a patient home from a nearby accident and emergency department when the incident happened. “The investigation is being handled by the police,” he added.
It is understood the accident happened at a dip on an otherwise straight section of the road.
Tommy Brookes, a local resident and chairman of Plean Community Council, said: “My sincere thoughts go out to the family of the man.
“It’s always extremely sad when someone loses their life, particularly in such tragic circumstances.