Patient dies in ambulance mishap

Barangay captain of Tayud, Consolacion suffered asthma, killed; driver flees

Driver Von Ryan Marañao says he lost control as the brakes malfunctioned and the ambulance fell into the sea

Marañao, Tayud Barangay Captain Felipe Codilla Lauron’s wife Elizabeth and nurse Edgar Ferrer Jr. suffered minor injuries

A 56-YEAR-OLD village official died after the ambulance ferrying him fell into the sea off Barangay Tayud, Consolacion town, northern Cebu last Tuesday night.

SPO2 Francisco Perez, desk officer, identified the casualty as Tayud Barangay Captain Felipe Codilla Lauron.

Lauron’s wife Elizabeth, ambulance driver Von Ryan Marañao and nurse Edgar Ferrer Jr. suffered minor injuries.

Before the incident happened around 11 p.m., the municipal ambulance was summoned to fetch Lauron from his residence because he had a hard time breathing.

Tayud Barangay Hall Secretary Chelo Pepito Lozada said the village chief reported to work last Tuesday morning and he was coughing incessantly.

“Hubakon na siya (He was asthmatic),” said Lozada in a phone interview.

After arriving home, Elizabeth decided to have her husband checked into a hospital. They did not use the barangay’s ambu- lance, as it has no oxygen tank and there is no nurse to assist them.

Upon reaching a seafood restaurant, Perez said Marañao lost control of the vehicle and fell into the sea, which is about two meters from the road.

The ambulance was traveling fast.

Elizabeth said he asked the driver to slow down, but he did not listen to her.

After seeing the inci- dent, Lauron’s son, who was driving his car and trailing the ambulance, disembarked to rescue his father and mother.

Some residents, who were awakened by the noise, went out and helped in pulling out the passengers.

Residents in the area called the barangay hall and a vehicle was dispatched to get Lauron, who was rushed to Mendero Medical Center in Pitogo, Consolacion.

The doctor tried to revive the public official, but failed.

Ferrer, who also suffered injuries, was brought to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

Marañao fled after the accident. He later surrendered to the police.

“Wala na mikagat ang brake (The brakes malfunctioned),” he told GMA 7 Balitang Bisdak.

A complaint of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and damage to government property will be filed against the driver.