A private ambulance driver who caused the deaths of two pensioners, including a patient she was transporting, has avoided prison time. Julie Ijere, 60, received a 20-month sentence, suspended for 30 months, after admitting to two counts of causing death by careless driving. The incident occurred on December 19, 2023, when the ambulance veered into the opposite lane and collided with a car.
Anthony Dawbarn, 93, a patient in the ambulance, and Jane Blampied, 70, the driver of the oncoming vehicle, both sustained serious injuries and died two days later at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. Ijere, who operates a patient transport ambulance for a private service, was also banned from driving for five years. She was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work, a 15-day rehabilitation activity program, and pay a £500 victim surcharge and £187 in costs.
Ijere claimed she blacked out for a few seconds before losing control of the vehicle. The court heard that the ambulance and the car had no defects, and road conditions were good at the time of the early evening crash on the B1506 road. Prosecutor Richard White stated that Ms. Blampied was driving safely before the ambulance crossed into her lane, resulting in significant damage to her car and the ambulance overturning.
Ijere had been prescribed the antidepressant sertraline since 2021 but there was no evidence of a recent dose that would have affected her driving. The court noted that motorists are advised not to drive after taking sertraline for the first time or after a dose increase. Her defense attorney, Jeremy Kendall, emphasized her remorse and stated that she genuinely could not explain the cause of the accident. Ijere will need to pass an extended re-test before being allowed to drive again.
Victim impact statements highlighted the profound loss felt by the families. Ms. Blampied's brother described her as a "much-loved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend," whose death has left a significant void. Mr. Dawbarn's son recalled him as a "family man who was kind, caring, supportive and compassionate."
Detective Inspector Dave McCormack acknowledged the tragedy for the victims' families and noted their understandable frustration regarding the unknown cause of the collision, despite Ijere's guilty plea. He stressed the importance of drivers remaining focused and fit to drive at all times.