Not the best way to drum up business.
An ambulance slammed into a cyclist in Oregon — breaking his nose and smashing his bike — then billed him more than $1,800 for a ride to the hospital, according to a new lawsuit.
William Hoesch, 71, is suing Columbia River Fire & Rescue for nearly $1 million, claiming an ambulance driver for the company left him with the outrageous bill along with permanent injuries and roughly $100,000 in medical expenses, oregonlive.com reported.
Hoesch was pedaling through the tiny town of Rainier, near the Columbia River, in October 2022 when the big red ride plowed into him while trying to make a right turn — crushing him under the wheel of the ambulance, according to the suit, filed on Oct. 24.
The driver, who was going between 2 mph and 10 mph, heard a thump then stopped and rushed Hoesch to a hospital, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in Columbia County.
The crash left him covered in blood, destroyed his bicycle and caused him long-term injuries such as “decreased range of motion” and “reduced grip,” the suit states.
To add insult to injury, the ambulance company later sent him a bill for $1,862 for giving him a lift to the hospital, Hoesch claims.
Hoesch’s is now demanding $997,000 for pain and suffering along with payment for medical bills, oregonlive.com reported.
Columbia River Fire & Rescue declined to comment to the outlet.
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