Ambulance 'booted' at Mid-City convenience store while EMTs were treating critical patient www.privateofficer.com

 

 

New Orleans LA Dec 2 2012 While New Orleans paramedics were treating a man with a life-threatening medical issue inside Quicky’s convenience store on Friday afternoon, their ambulance, which was parked outside with its lights flashing, was “booted,” according to a report by WWL-TV. The restrictive parking “boot” flattened one of the ambulance’s tires.

 The incident happened about 4 p.m. Friday at the convenience store at 2701 Tulane Ave., across from the Orleans Parish Criminal District Courthouse. Arriving to treat a man who complained of chest pain, paramedics moved him into the ambulance and started to drive away when they “heard a loud noise” and realized their tire was booted, New Orleans EMS spokesman Jeb Tate said, according to the report.

The paramedics and the patient had to wait for another ambulance to arrive before he could be transported to a hospital, the report said.

Store employees declined requests for comment, according to the report. A sign on the property reads: “If you leave the property for any reason your vehicle will be booted.”

Tate told WWL that this type of incident has never happened before. “As long as we have our lights on, we park where it is safe to park,” he added.

Tate said the New Orleans Police Department is investigating the incident.

About these ads