Kent ambulance crash: Tragedy as female paramedic dies in horror accident
A FEMALE paramedic has died after the ambulance she was travelling in collided with a cement truck in Kent last night.
Kent paramedic dead following ambulance crash
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) confirmed the news with "great sadness". It also said that a male paramedic travelling with her sustained serious injuries and had been airlifted to hospital following the crash on the A21 near Sevenoaks at around 8pm last night.
A student paramedic was taken to hospital with head injuries while the lorry's driver suffered minor injuries, the trust confirmed in a statement this morning.
SECAmb Executive Director of Operations Emma Williams said: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and our heartfelt sympathies go to her family, friends and colleagues at this very difficult time.
"Our thoughts are also with the other injured staff members as well as all of those who responded to the incident.
“We are supporting the police in their enquiries and would urge anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact them.”
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We are appealing for dashcam footage and urging motorists to avoid the A21 in #Tonbridge following a serious collision involving a lorry and an ambulance. Read more on our website: https://t.co/hiAButQdMU
— Kent Police (UK) (@kent_police) January 6, 2022
The road was shut for several hours before reopening at around 8am this morning while investigations were carried out.
Kent Police attended and has appealed for any witnesses to come forward.
A spokesperson said: "Dashcam footage and witnesses are being sought following a collision on the coastbound carriageway of the A21 near Sevenoaks.
"Kent Police was called to the scene at 8.16pm on Wednesday 5 January 2022, following a report of a collision involving an ambulance and a cement lorry.
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"Four people were injured in the incident, two of them were seriously hurt and the air ambulance was in attendance.
"Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit have commenced an investigation and are asking anyone with dashcam footage prior to the incident to come forward.
"Anyone who witnessed the collision is also being asked to contact officers."
The ambulance trust said it was called to the scene of a road traffic collision on the southbound carriageway of the A21 near Tonbridge at 8.20pm when the ambulance was involved in a collision with a cement lorry.
It is with huge sadness that we confirm the death of a paramedic involved in a collision on the A21, near Tonbridge, Kent, yesterday evening (5 January 2022). A full statement is available here: https://t.co/rvHhlXnTbk pic.twitter.com/k1ckQYwCSm
— South East Coast Ambulance (@SECAmbulance) January 6, 2022
Three members of staff were travelling in the ambulance at the time of the collision but were not conveying a patient, it said.
Multiple crews attended the scene, including the air ambulance service alongside police and fire service colleagues.
Despite the best efforts of everyone involved, a female paramedic sadly died at the scene.
Our thoughts are with the families of those involved, and our colleagues at SECAMB.❤️
— Surrey Fire & Rescue Service (@SurreyFRS) January 6, 2022
A male paramedic, who sustained serious multiple injuries, was airlifted to Kings College Hospital in London and a student paramedic, who was travelling in the rear of the vehicle, was taken to hospital with a head injury. The lorry driver suffered minor injuries.
Surrey Fire & Rescue Service tweeted: "Our thoughts are with the families of those involved, and our colleagues at SECAMB."