Family car crashes with ambulance in Gateshead

Dec 4 2011 by Kim Carmichael, Sunday Sun

A FAMILY had a lucky escape after their car crashed into an ambulance.

Six people were taken to hospital with minor injuries after the accident, which brought traffic to a halt on Old Durham Road, Gateshead.

The ambulance had been travelling from the nearby Queen Elizabeth Hospital when it collided with the Ford Galaxy at the junction of Shipcote Terrace at around 2.30pm yesterday.

The ambulance tipped over on to its side but the crew escaped unharmed.

The two adults and four children who had been travelling in the people carrier were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Khalil Ahmed, 22, who was working in the Booze Barn, on Old Durham Road, at the time, said: “I heard a loud bang and ran to the door to see what had happened.

“The ambulance had been coming down the road I think from the hospital at the top.

“I don’t think it had its siren on but I can’t be sure.

“Customers have told me the ambulance had tried to swerve out of the way of the other car and clipped it and crashed.

“There were two people in the front of the car and a baby in the back in its car seat. Luckily it doesn’t look like anyone was hurt.”

Several police officers were dispatched to divert traffic around the scene of the accident at the busy junction.

A spokeswoman for the North East Ambulance Service said: “One of our ambulances was involved in a collision with a people carrier. The ambulance tipped on to its side.

“Both of our crew are fine and did not need to go to hospital with injuries.

“There were six patients taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Casualty to be checked over. Their injuries were minor.”

The ambulance was towed away two hours later when police then reopened the road.