Too close for comfort

By Lia Bichel
THREE cars were involved in a fiery crash in front of Dandenong’s ambulance branch on the weekend.
The accident occurred on the corner of David Street and Stud Road about 10pm on 21 March.
Advanced life support paramedic Michael Ray said once paramedics were out in the street they saw one car had rolled onto the Ambulance branch’s front lawn and two others had crashed head on.
“One of the cars had caught fire so we ran back into the branch and grabbed a couple of fire extinguishers. The flames had also spread to a second car, so we called the CFA,” he said.
“Thankfully those in all three cars had managed to get themselves out of the wrecks.
Mr Ray said a 69-year-old woman who was in the second car had chest pain following the crash, so paramedics gave her pain relief and fitted her for a neck brace as a precaution.
He said the driver of that car was also fitted with a neck brace, before they were both taken to the Dandenong Hospital in a stable condition.
“The driver of the car that rolled and the first one that caught fire declined offers of treatment by paramedics,” Mr Ray said.
“All of those involved in the accident were quite shaken by the chain of events.
“But, if you are going to be involved in such an accident, outside an Ambulance branch is a good place to be. We were just metres away and had three crews, including intensive care paramedics, on the scene within a matter of moments.”