Northern Times (Australia)
Copyright 2006 Nationwide News Pty Limited
All Rights Reserved
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of an ambulance roll-over on Bribie Island Rd this week.
Siren blaring and lights flashing, the ambulance containing three officers was responding to a code-one emergency when it rolled on approaching the Ningi roundabout in wet conditions just before 9am on Monday.
A nearby resident among the first on the scene, truck driver Jack Vanderland, 46, said he believed a worn tyre has caused the accident.
He described the tyre as being bald, with wear he believed showed it had originally been on the front of a vehicle.
Bribie Island Ambulance officer-in-charge Pat Lynch confirmed the tyre was found in a torn state after the roll-over, but said claims the tyre had been bald before the incident were purely speculative as the damage could have been done during the roll-over.
Accident investigators are expected to make their findings soon.
The ambulance involved was serviced less than two weeks ago, he said.
“There is nothing to say the actual tyres were worn before. To my knowledge we don’t know at this stage,” Mr Lynch said.
“I would say that wouldn’t be the case because all our vehicles are serviced regularly,” he said.
Mr Vanderland said anyone with a basic mechanical knowledge who saw the tyre would have reached the same conclusion.
Mr Vanderland reported what he saw to Liberal candidate for Pumicestone Shane Moon, who he saw drive past shortly after the incident.
He said he had not been involved in Queensland politics, but was a National Party branch president in the ‘90s, who quit the party in disgust and led a revolt.
The ambulance officers were uninjured and another vehicle quickly reached the code-one emergency.