A fire department bill of more than $1,200 a man received after being injured in an ATV accident will not be forgiven by Grey Highlands council.
At council’s meeting on Sept. 7, Colt Carter attended the meeting and asked council to consider forgiving the fire department’s bill of $1,273.78 he received after the accident.
In a presentation to council, Carter said on July 2 he was returning a friend’s ATV to his friend’s home near Flesherton when the accident occurred. He and a passenger were following an off-road trail that runs parallel to Grey Road 13.
“The trail became uneven and caused the ATV and myself to roll down the embankment and lodge into the ditch of Grey Road 13,” Carter said at the meeting.
Carter said a bystander called 911 for assistance and that police and paramedics responded to the scene. Carter said his back was injured in the accident. He said in his presentation that he did not observe Grey Highlands firefighters on the scene.
“I understand the process of fees and invoices for emergency services, but a $1,273.78 invoice for 'patient packaging, retrieval of personal items from the rollover, and traffic control' is unfair. Especially due to witnessing no fire services on scene,” he said.
Fire Chief Marty Wellwood attended the meeting virtually and said firefighters had responded to the accident. Wellwood said department personnel were on scene for just under an hour and conducted traffic control and clean-up.
“The victim was in the back of EMS on our arrival,” said Wellwood. “We were on scene and attended it.”
After the chief’s presentation, Carter apologized for the confusion and said he is questioning why the bill from the fire department stated it was for: “patient packaging, retrieval of personal items from the rollover, and traffic control” when it was EMS, police and local bystanders who assisted him to the ambulance.
“I have a hard time understanding $1,200 for that side of things,” he said.
Council received Carter’s presentation for information. No resolution to forgive the bill was brought forward by any members of council.
