Page 16 - IAV Digital Magazine #607

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
Ambulance Hits Cyclist, Rushes Him To Hospital, Then Bills Him $1,800
An Oregon cyclist who was struck by an ambulance that made a right turn into him — fracturing his nose and leaving him with scrapes and other injuries across his body — has filed a $997,000 lawsuit against the ambu- lance provider after workers scooped him
up, drove him to the hospital and then billed him for the service, according to the suit.
Attorney Travis Mayor says the ambulance provider — Columbia River Fire & Rescue — sent his client, 71- year-old William
Hoesch, a $1,862 bill for the ambulance ride. That’s among about $47,000 in medical expenses that Hoesch has racked up so far and another $50,000 of medical costs he expects in the future, the suit states.
Columbia River Fire
& Rescue declined to comment. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Co. didn’t respond to a request for comment. The suit claims that Hoesch’s uninsured or underin- sured motorist cover- age is obligated to cover any damages that Columbia River Fire & Rescue is unable to.
According to the law- suit, Hoesch was pedaling through the small town of Rainier in Columbia
County in October 2022 when he and the ambulance were traveling the same direction on a street that’s a mix of homes and businesses. The ambulance attempted to make a right turn onto another street, crashing into Hoesch and destroying his bicycle, according to the suit, which was filed Oct. 24.
The crash happened
in front of Columbia River Fire & Rescue’s Rainier station, as
the ambulance was returning from a trip.
According to police reports, the driver who struck Hoesch and a passenger in the ambulance esti- mated the ambulance was going between 2 and 10 mph when they heard a thump, stopped and saw Hoesch injured. Hoesch estimated to police that he was going 5 mph to 10 mph and said he did- n’t think the ambu- lance was going to turn in front of him. His bicycle was crushed under the ambulance wheel.
Hoesch’s lawsuit also seeks $900,000 for pain and suffering, stating he suffered decreased range of motion, reduced grip strength and other issues.
iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine