RED WING, Minn. -- An ongoing investigation has revealed that a software glitch likely led to a woman's death aboard a fire department ambulance on April 22, according to The Pierce County Herald.
Janice Hall was being transported to Minneapolis when the ambulance's onboard oxygen system unexpectedly quit, killing her, a Dakota County Medical Examiner's report states.
Red Wing Fire Chief Tom Schneider told the newspaper that the system "spontaneously shut itself off."
Investigations have indicated a problem with the oxygen system's software, which probably caused the unexpected shutdown, Schneider said.
The ambulance's manufacturer -- Spartan Chassis -- and an electrical engineer hired by the city's legal insurance trust are continuing to look into the matter.
After the incident the ambulance was taken out of service and received an equipment overhaul before being returned to service in early May. On May 25, the ambulance's oxygen system unexpectedly quit again, according to the report.
The department is now using portable oxygen systems onboard the ambulance, which is being used only as a last resort.
"I’m not going to use this truck in its full capacity until it's fixed," Schneider said.
