11th December 2002

 

An ambulance driver from the North East of England has been awarded £5,865 in compensation after he sued for whiplash injuries sustained after the ambulance he was driving crashed into a tree in the area of High Heaten, Newcastle. 

 

Joel Byers, then 48, claimed the Chevrolet ambulance lost power and the steering and brakes failed whilst he was driving the vehicle during an emergency call out in. In order to stop the vehicle he deliberately veered into a tree to avoid further disaster.

 

The Country Court in Newcastle ruled in favour of Byers despite claims from his employers that the ambulance was not faulty. Although Byers was delighted with the result, he was disappointed to not have the support and backing of his employers. The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) said there was no evidence to suggest the isolator switch on the vehicle was faulty - this was blamed for shorting out the power. 

 

Following the case however, moves to speed up the programme to replace all Chevrolet ambulances with Mercedes Benz vehicles were taken. 

 

 

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