Man held after fatal ambulance crash - full story

Meridian
Friday 26 April 2013 at 2:36pm

A general view of the scene on the A337 north of Brockenhurst in the New Forest Credit: PA

A motorist has been arrested after a paramedic and an elderly patient were killed when an ambulance crashed into a tree in Hampshire.

The incident happened on the A337 Brockenhurst to Lyndhurst road this morning and involved a car - driven by the detained man - and the ambulance.

The ambulance left the road and hit a tree, Hampshire Police said.

The car driver, in his 20s, was arrested at the scene of the crash on suspicion of causing death by driving without due care and attention.

The driver of the ambulance - a female paramedic - and an elderly male patient travelling in the rear of the vehicle died at the scene.

A male crew member and a male relative of the patient, who were both in the back of the ambulance, were seriously injured.

The crew member was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital and the relative of the patient was taken by ambulance.

"Next of kin for those involved are in the process of being informed," a police spokesman said.

"The road is expected to remain closed for the rest of the day while collision investigators examine the scene and arrange for the vehicle to be recovered."

The double-crewed ambulance belonged to South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) and was transporting the patient to Southampton General Hospital.

"South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is conducting appropriate welfare checks with the families of all involved," a spokesman for the service said.