Past or Present perfect?

[rajeshmalladi]

There was an accident and we need an ambulance.
There has been an accident and we need an ambulance.

I have seen the second sentence in a grammar book and am wondering why the author used present perfect when the accident has already taken place.

Also, please advice me whether the above sentence is correct in which I used two present perfect tenses.

Thank you.

[Rusty]

1. There was an accident and we need an ambulance.
2. There has been an accident and we need an ambulance.

I have seen the second sentence in a grammar book and am wondering why the author used present perfect when the accident has already taken place.

(Both sentences are correct. 2. is more natural because the accident happened in the recent past. The speaker is very close to it. The past tense in number 1. tends to put the accident further into the past).

Also, please advice me whether the above sentence is correct in which I used two present perfect tenses.

(The verbs in 1. are: past (was) and present (need). The verbs in 2. are: present perfect (has been) and present (need).
It would be unnatural to say: "There has been an accident and we have needed an ambulance." There are two present perfect verbs in this sentence).