Leader-Post: Drivers urged to slow down when passing emergency vehicles

Moose Jaw and District EMS paramedic Ray Francis will never forget when an ambulance was struck by a vehicle on the Trans-Canada Highway between Pense and Belle Plaine.

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Ray Francis' full quote describing one accident

"A towing company was attempting to pull a car out of the ditch on a snowy, somewhat stormy day and they were protecting the scene so the tow truck drivers wouldn’t get injured or get run into by other vehicles.

"So they had their marked vehicle on the trans Canada highway and a vehicle ran right into the back of them so they had all their emergency warning lights on and the vehicle still managed to run into the back of them.

"They did have minor injuries although recently just talking to the officers they’re still suffering some pain in their neck and back as a result of that crash and what we’re seeing with that is that’s one instance where somebody got hit and actually got injured, but we’re seeing, especially in the wintertime, quite often we’re seeing instances where vehicles are passing us by at high rates of speed and not pulling over to the farthest lane away from the situation.

"They’re just not afraid to drive the regular speed limit or even faster, whizzing within a few feet of our vehicles and causing quite a lot of concern for our paramedics that are on scene. I’ve had many of them call in saying that they’re afraid for their safety while they’re on scene."

 - Ray Francis, Moose Jaw and District EMS paramedic and director of communications for the Moose Jaw  EMS