Families of two pensioners killed in an ambulance crash near Newmarket are still waiting for answers more than two years on, with the cause of the collision remaining a mystery.
Julie Ijere, 60, the driver of the private ambulance, admitted causing death by careless driving but was spared jail at Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday. She was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment, suspended for 30 months, and disqualified from driving for five years.
What happened
Ijere was driving an ambulance operated by a private transport service with a colleague and two patients towards Newmarket, Suffolk on December 19, 2023. Jane Blampied, 70, was driving a Volkswagen Golf on the other side of the road when the ambulance drifted into her path, causing the ambulance to tip on its side. Anthony Dawbarn, 93, a patient in the ambulance, suffered serious injuries and died at Addenbrooke's Hospital on December 21.
Ijere, from Stowmarket, Suffolk, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by careless driving at a previous hearing in April. CCTV and dashcam footage from the ambulance showed that just prior to the collision, the ambulance crossed the broken white lines into the path of the VW Golf.
Investigation findings
Suffolk Police said the investigation found no evidence of distractions from inside the ambulance, nor that Ijere had been interacting with her phone. She was on prescription medication at the time, but there was no evidence to suggest this adversely affected her ability to drive safely.
Detective Inspector Dave McCormack, of Suffolk Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "This has been a tragic case for the families of Jane Blampied and Anthony Dawbarn to deal with. It has taken a long time to be brought to court and I thank the families for their patience. Julie Ijere has pleaded guilty and therefore taken responsibility, however this still doesn't give the families the answer as to what caused the collision. This is understandably a cause of frustration for them."
Impact and sentence
Victim personal statements from both families were read during the hearing, highlighting the enduring impact of the losses. In addition to her suspended sentence, Ijere must carry out 80 hours of unpaid work, take part in a 15-day rehabilitation activity programme, and pay a £500 victim surcharge and £187 in costs.
