A female rider seriously injured in a crash has been assumed by the insurance company to be at fault simply because she collided with a paramedic ambulance.
Max Caruso claims his wife, Karen, was turning right on a green arrow from Burwood Highway into Springvale Rd at Vermont South at 11am on September 28 when the paramedic’s Ford Territory t-boned her 899 Ducati.
However, their insurance company is adamant it was Karen’s fault because it was an ambulance that hit her, he says.
Max is now chasing eye witnesses who can verify Karen was turning on a green signal.
“We’ve had three witnesses come forward with one being directly behind Karen and they also entered the intersection,” Max says.
“Fingers crossed, Ambulance Victoria now come clean with their story.”
Ambulance Victoria says the paramedic vehicle was on its way to an emergency call, but has not stated if the MICA vehicle had its emergency lights and sirens on.
Karen on her Ducati“Details have become increasingly difficult to obtain,” Max says.
“We believe it’s due to an ambulance being involved.
“Neither Victoria Police nor Ambulance Victoria are sharing a solitary scrap of information.”
In fact, neither emergency service even notified next-of-kin Karen was in hospital with severe injuries.
Max only found out about the accident 3½ hours later through their Ducati club, Melbourne Ducatista, when two friends tagged him and Karen checking on their safety.
Karen and fellow Ducatisti, NickExemplary record
He says his wife has an exemplary riding record, has taken two courses to increase her skills since getting her licence and was wearing all the correct riding gear, as usual.
However, she still sustained substantial injuries: broken hand, hip, leg, cheek and nose, slashed artery in her neck, multiple broken ribs, and partial amputation of her left foot.
She has since had multiple pins and plates inserted throughout her body.
“The road to recovery is going to be long and steady, maybe four weeks in the Alfred Hospital and possibly a few months in rehab,” Max says.
“Our saving grace is pretty much everything from the waist up is ok. She is pretty tough and very strong willed which is going to be her biggest asset over the next while.”
Max is still asking for anyone who witnessed the crash to contact him.
(Editor’s note: The term “collided with” in the first paragraph does not legally apportion any blame. It simply means both vehicles were moving at the time.)