A judge has dismissed a dangerous driving charge against an ambulance driver after finding that dashcam footage showed a learner motorist had unintentionally edged into his lane moments before the collision which caused her car to flip over.
Josh Hayes (24), of Five Mile Point, Newcastle, Co Wicklow, had pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving at Cabinteely on 20 March 2024, contrary to section 53(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1961.
Dún Laoghaire District Court heard that Hayes had been driving with his lights and sirens activated while transporting a psychiatric patient to St Vincent’s University Hospital.
Gardai gave evidence that the patient, who was suffering from schizophrenia, had been aggressive and there were concerns for the safety of the ambulance crew.
Footage played in court, taken from another driver’s dashcam, showed the learner driver’s car come from a slip road, merge into a lane and then edge further left into the inner lane, directly in front of the ambulance. The ambulance struck the back of her car, causing it to overturn.
The court heard that the driver and her passenger were taken to hospital with whiplash and bruising.
The learner driver said the ambulance “came out of the blue” and that she had no time to react.
Judge Anne Watkin watched the CCTV a number of times and found that the learner driver edging left into the ambulance’s lane was what ultimately determined the outcome.
She said there was no suggestion that the woman had acted improperly, adding that when someone hears a siren but cannot yet see the ambulance, it can be difficult to know where it is coming from and what to do.
Judge Watkin said an ambulance driver must get a patient from A to B as quickly as possible and that the usual road-safety rules “do not operate in the normal way” during such journeys.
She concluded the charge was not proven and dismissed the case.