SPRINGFIELD, MO – Springfield Coach Group, a leader in premier limousines and funeral home fleet vehicles, has generously provided the Greene County Medical Examiner’s Office a state-of-the-art Mercedes Metris van to use for body transportation.
Traditionally, the Medical Examiner’s Office has paid local funeral homes $75 for each transport. Since receiving the van from Springfield Coach Group, office staff have performed their own transports, saving local taxpayers nearly $4,000 to date. Access to the vehicle has also drastically reduced response times to scenes, earning the office overwhelmingly positive feedback from law enforcement agencies.
In exchange for use of the van, Springfield Coach Group has asked the Medical Examiner’s Office to offer comments and suggestions for improvements to its functionality as a transport van for medical examiners, specifically.
“We thank [Springfield Coach Group] for the opportunity to test the Metris van,” says Tom Van De Berg, Chief Forensic Investigator at Greene County Medical Examiner’s Office. “[We] have been pleased with the quality of workmanship and the performance of the vehicle.”
Putting the van into regular use by a busy medical examiner’s office has provided Springfield exceptionally valuable feedback, all of which Springfield seriously reviews.
“As a manufacturer of funeral vehicles, we work closely with death care professionals to ensure the design and functionality meets their needs and makes their difficult tasks a little easier,” says Dustin Campbell, Vice President of Sales for Springfield Coach Group. “The information and suggestions from Tom and his team’s real-life experiences using the Mercedes Metris van have been extremely helpful as we continue to improve our prototype.”
In a recent presentation to county officials, Van De Berg praised the vehicle’s maneuverability, ground clearance, and functional storage compartments. Springfield’s goal is to refine the Mercedes Metris transport vehicle to easily accommodate several types of stretchers and cots, conveniently store numerous tools and supplies, and provide excellent lighting and comfort for transport staff. Other features include USB ports, LED hazard lights, and a low profile for easy entrance and exit.
In addition to customizable transport vans, Springfield Coach Group also offers removal vans to death care professionals beginning at $55,000 and hearses starting in the low $90,000 range. For more information on Springfield’s inventory of funeral fleet vehicles, visit www.limoland.com or contact Dustin Campbell at dustin@limolandsales.com.
