Five persons, including a newborn, who were travelling in an ambulance had a narrow escape when the vehicle hit a mini-truck at the intersection of Red Road and Mayo Road on Sunday afternoon.
Police said that the people who were in the ambulance received minor injuries and were taken to SSKM Hospital.
A police officer said that the ambulance was taking the people, including a woman and her baby, from Calcutta Medical College and Hospital to their home in Howrah.
The accident took place after the ambulance flouted a red signal on Rani Rashmoni Avenue and reached the intersection between Red Road and Mayo Road.
It hit a mini-truck that overturned on the thoroughfare causing traffic congestion. The driver and helper of the mini-truck also received minor injuries and were taken to SSKM Hospital.
Local people rushed to the spot soon after the accident. The on-duty policemen and traffic sergeants went to the spot and initiated the rescue work.
The driver of the offending ambulance was arrested and the injured persons were sent to SSKM Hospital in a trauma care ambulance of the city police.
Local people who witnessed the accident said that it was caused by rash driving on the part of the driver of the ambulance. He had violated the red light and hit the mini-truck. No patient was going to the hospital in the ambulance, thus, the driver had no reason to hurry, said a police officer.