Pott. County Ambulance Fleet Reduced After Havensville Road Accident

A Pottawatomie County ambulance was involved in an accident last week while transporting a patient, EMS Director Andrew Couchman reported during Monday's county commission meeting.

According to Couchman, both the crew members and the patient on board remained safe during the incident. The ambulance was traveling on Havensville Road when another vehicle crossed the center line. In response, the ambulance driver moved to the shoulder, but the narrow roadway caused the vehicle to go into the ditch before ramping up into a farm field.

"The paramedic really just put himself over the cot for the course and duration while everything was falling out of the cabinets," Couchman told commissioners. He added that the paramedic sustained minor injuries during the accident.

Couchman credited the crew's training for the positive outcome, noting that the driver "did exactly what we teach" by letting off the gas, keeping the vehicle steady, and warning their partner to hold on.

The ambulance has been transported to Topeka for assessment. The county's insurance provider will examine the vehicle to determine if the frame was bent during the accident. Couchman explained that if frame damage is discovered, decisions about repairs would become more complicated than simply "unbending the frame and putting the box back on."

The manufacturer will ultimately determine whether the ambulance box can safely be remounted on the vehicle frame, Couchman said.

The accident has created additional challenges for the department during football season, reducing the number of available vehicles in the fleet. Couchman indicated he would like to schedule a work session with commissioners to discuss ambulance issues once the full assessment is complete.