Concludes that the ambulance drove too fast – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio

The ambulance that drove off the road on the E18 in Holmestrand last year lost traction at 160 km/h. It appears in a report from the Accident Investigation Board From the time the ambulance entered the E18, the speed was approximately 140 km/h and with increasing speed towards the gentle curve further ahead. In the left curve at Helland bridge, the ambulance had a speed of around 160 km/h when it lost traction. Severely damaged, the Ambulance was hit on the smooth, and ended up on the roof in the middle slope. Three people were injured in the serious accident. An employee was seriously injured and sent to Oslo University Hospital (OUS) by helicopter. Two other employees were sent to the emergency room. The patient on board was uninjured, and was transported on by a new ambulance from the scene. According to the report, safety was reduced as a result of the winter tires on the rear wheels not meeting tread depth requirements. Aquaplaning On the basis of the road conditions, the speed of the vehicle entering the curve, as well as analysis of video showing the sequence of events in the accident, the Accident Investigation Board believes that the ambulance suffered aquaplaning and that the driver lost control. The Norwegian Labor Inspectorate concluded in January that speed, driving and worn tires led to the serious ambulance accident. The rear tires on the car were less than two months old, but the Norwegian Labor Inspectorate’s investigations show that they had a tread depth below the minimum requirement. The legal requirement for vehicles over 3,500 kg is a tread depth of five millimeters. On the day of the accident, the car had a tread depth of 3.20-4.17 millimeters on the right rear tire and 3.93-4.51 millimeters on the left rear tyre. Need to strengthen training and follow-up The survey has shown that there is a need to strengthen both the training and the follow-up of emergency driving by ambulance in order to increase traffic safety. Photo: Philip Hofgaard / news



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