Patient dies, five injured as ambulance hits private bus

Bengaluru, Aug 20: A 46-year-old cardiac patient, who was being transported from Ballari to Jayadeva Hospital for surgery, died when the ambulance hit a private bus near the toll booth in Peenya on National Highway 4. The accident occurred around 6.am. on Friday.

The ambulance was behind the bus. It had crossed the toll gate, but rammed into the bus that had stopped abruptly.

According to the police, bus driver Stanley D’Souza had stopped the vehicle in the middle of the road to allow a few passengers to alight.

“He stopped the bus abruptly. As a result, the ambulance could not stop in time. As a result, the patient Eeramma fell down from the stretcher and died on the spot,” said a police officer.

A nurse, Jacobson Janamala, who was accompanying Eeramma, was severely injured as he hit the pole on the stretcher. Ambulance driver Vinay Kumar and three of the victim’s family members were injured and hospitalised. The family is from Sandur in Ballari.

Passers-by, along with staff of the toll gate, immediately shifted the injured persons to Premier Sanjeevini Hospital in Jalahalli where the doctors declared Eeramma dead on arrival.

Ambulance nurse critical

Mr. Jacobson sustained serious head injuries. "He is in the ICU and will be taken for a craniotomy surgery. He will need up to seven days to recover," said Dr. Tarakanath Pujari, ICU resident doctor at Premier Sanjeevini.

Jacobson’s cousin Kiran, who stays in Kanakapura, reached the hospital after hearing of the accident. "His parents are on their way from his hometown in Ballari," said Kiran. Jacobson works for the 108 ambulance service.

The Peenya Traffic Police have detained the driver and seized the bus. Traffic on the busy airport road was disrupted for some time.

“We have booked the driver for rash and negligent driving and death due to negligence. He has been remanded in judicial custody,” a senior police officer said.