UNION leaders met ambulance bosses last night to urge them to take their fleet of US-built vehicles off the roads.
The appeal came after the rear wheels fell off an ambulance during an emergency call in Sunderland on Friday.
It was the fifth accident in the Chevrolet fleet since the North-East Ambulance Service (NEAS) took delivery of the vehicles in 1993.
Ray McDermott, Unison branch representative for the NEAS, said last night: "Management have put forward proposals which will be discussed at an emergency branch meeting. They have not given a time scale for their proposals, which could have a bearing on the matter."
He added: "These vehicles are not suited to road conditions in this country. They are probably road tested on straight roads in America.
"But on our twisting roads there is going to be more wear and tear."
An NEAS spokesman said: "Management has held meaningful discussions with Unison and they are going to be discussing the outcome with staff.
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