Exclusive: Staten Island ambulette driver walks away when Alzheimer's patient falls
WEST BRIGHTON, Staten Island (WABC) -- A 76-year-old woman who suffers from Alzheimer's disease was shown little compassion by the driver of a Staten Island ambulette service and an aide.
The incident took place right outside the home of the victim, Roseann DeStafano, in West Brighton. She fell over, hitting the ground, and was apparently left there by the driver, who watched her tumble and then walked to the other side of his vehicle.
DeStafano struggled to get out of the ambulette, as she uses a walker and needs assistance to move around. She had grabbed the walker once outside the transport van, but let it go and used the bus for stability. Without warning, she fell down. Now, her daughter wants to know why the driver did not come to help her mother.
WATCH: Video of the incident below
Carolyn Destafano was nearby on the phone when her mother went down. She was alerted by the aide to help, and she eventually saw her mother sprawled out on the ground. Carolyn argued with the driver about the incident, and he took a few moments to decide whether to help her. She said the driver felt he had been verbally abused by Roseann and was not compelled to help.
After the driver got the woman back on her feet and into her home, he got in his van and drove away. According to the victim's daughter, there were no apologies. In fact, no one knew just how hard the woman had fallen until the daughter checked the family's security cameras.
The senior care center that contracts with the ambulette transport service said the incident should not have happened. Carolyn said there was supposed to be door-to-door service, and she has not received an apology.
