Hunting for new clients? Funeral home owner crashes into ambulance
A traffic incident in Karelia unfolded with such grim irony that it almost reads like satire. A local funeral home owner allegedly drove his SUV into an ambulance, in what could be described as either unusually aggressive market research or a catastrophic misunderstanding of vertical integration.
The ambulance driver attempted an emergency stop in an effort to avoid the collision. It was not enough. The funeral industry representative maintained his trajectory and struck the emergency vehicle.
As a result of the crash, a 32 year old paramedic was taken to hospital. The ambulance itself was declared a total loss, which may offer small consolation to future public procurement officials but little comfort to those involved.
At the time of the incident, the ambulance was returning empty after successfully delivering a patient. In purely chronological terms, the timing was unfortunate for anyone hoping to draw darkly comic conclusions.
Authorities are currently determining whether the driver was under the influence. An expert examination will establish his level of intoxication, if any.
A grim metaphor for competition
Beyond the immediate injuries and material damage, the case offers a bleak metaphor for local competition. When customers do not arrive naturally, one could say, some businesses appear ready to meet them halfway.
This time, the consequences stopped at hospitalisation and destroyed equipment. That alone qualifies as a stroke of luck.
