“Hoodoo” On Dunedin Ambulance Journeys

Press, Volume C, Issue 29669, 13 November 1961, Page 12

“Hoodoo” On Dunedin Ambulance Journeys

(New Zealand Preu Association)

INVERCARGILL, Nov. 1Z \ An extraordinary series of accidents of the same kind involved three ambulances which set out from Dunedin to bring a seriously-ill patient from Queenstown to the Wakari Hospital, Dunedin, during the week-end. In the end, the patient was taken to hospital by an ambulance from Gore. The first ambulance from Dunedin had to stop as a result of a stone through the windscreen, and a request was made for another. This ambulance travelled as tar as Alexandra before its progress was stopped by a similar accident A call was then sent back for another ambulance, which succeeded in reaching

Queenstown. The patient was taken aboard, and the ambulance started back to Dunedin by way of Lumsden and Balfour. .But the hoodoo persisted Between Balfour and Mandeville (near Gore) the ambulance got a stone through its windshield. The driver drove on to the Gore Police Station, where a fourth ambulance was called into service. It set out from Gore after 2 a.m today, and completed the journey to Dunedin without further mishap. The driver of the third Dunedin ambulance said that it was the first time in his 25 years’ experience that a stone had shattered an ambulance windshield.