A 71 year old cyclist, William Hoesch, is suing Columbia River Fire & Rescue after being struck by one of their ambulances and then charged a hefty fee for transport to the hospital.
The incident took place in October 2022 in Rainier, Columbia County, when the ambulance driver, making a right turn outside the fire station, collided with Hoesch.
The impact was severe enough to crush the bicycle beneath the ambulance’s front wheels, as captured in photos from the scene.
Despite the ambulance being involved in the accident, the provider still charged Hoesch nearly $1,900 for the ambulance ride.
The 71 year old cyclist, is facing financial hardship after a bicycle crash that left him injured and saddled with hefty medical bills. Following the accident, an ambulance transported him to a local hospital, but the ride came with a staggering $1,862 price tag.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, as Hoesch has already incurred $47,000 in medical expenses and anticipates an additional $50,000 in future costs.
In response to this financial burden, Hoesch has filed a $997,000 lawsuit against the ambulance provider, seeking compensation for his current and future medical expenses, as well as $900,000 for pain and suffering.
The lawsuit alleges that Hoesch has experienced a decrease in range of motion, reduced grip strength, and other ongoing symptoms resulting from the fall. Columbia River Fire & Rescue, the ambulance provider, has yet to respond to the lawsuit.
This could potentially force Hoesch to rely on his uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage to cover the damages if the ambulance provider fails to do so.
