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Chalk this one up to the “how very interesting” file…

It started out just like any other call. Our tones dropped a few minutes after the shift’s start, and we hit the road for a little girl who drank a little too much cough syrup. We arrived to find the fire department already on-scene, and were greeted by a very slippery driveway. Wait… Make that a very slippery driveway on a serious incline.

We tried backing in, and made it nearly to the top before spinning the rear wheels. The driver (whose request to remain anonymous has been denied) set the park brake, and we headed in to greet our patient. All was stable, so we returned to the truck to get the pediatric transporter set up. But then a funny thing happened.

We heard a pop. Then a creak. Then the sound of crunching snow. And that was about the point when we realized that the truck was moving away from us! A quick glance through the open rear doors revealed an empty driver’s seat – and resulted in a prompt “Oh Shit!” from us!

As the fire fighters yelled warnings to the people below, I held on to the doors to keep from falling under the rear step. Barry – the one to save the day – ran around the side of the bus, jumped into the driver’s seat and promptly brought the runaway ambulance’s descent to a halt.

How very interesting indeed…