KEY POINTS:
Police in Lower Hutt are investigating an incident in which a rock was thrown through the side window of an ambulance as it drove to an emergency.
The vehicle was attacked early yesterday as it drove along Randwick Rd to attend an emergency in Lower Hutt.
Two other cars were attacked in a similar manner soon afterwards, between 1.40am and 2.15am.
Police said today they were investigating the incidents and urged anyone with information to contact them.
Mark Osborne from the Wellington Free Ambulance said the crew of the ambulance initially thought they had hit something, but stopped and discovered the side window had been smashed and there was glass scattered around the inside of the ambulance.
He told Radio New Zealand it created a serious situation where another ambulance had to be sent, leaving a significant delay in tending to the patient, who was suffering from a heart problem.
"We were obviously going to a life-threatening emergency and then for the patient to have to wait that extra time due to a malicious act against the ambulance, it's going to take extra time and put people's lives at risk," Mr Osborne said.
- NZPA
