AN INVESTIGATION was launched last night after an ambulance answering a 999 call was in a collision with a car, leaving its female driver dead.The crash happened as the emergency vehicle – with blue lights and sirens on – was travelling along Melford Road, Sudbury, at around 6.

By Richard Smith

AN INVESTIGATION was launched last night after an ambulance answering a 999 call was in a collision with a car, leaving its female driver dead.

The crash happened as the emergency vehicle – with blue lights and sirens on – was travelling along Melford Road, Sudbury, at around 6.30pm last night.

It was in a collision with a blue Nissan Micra, and its elderly female driver, who is thought to be from the Sudbury area, was declared dead at the scene.

The driver of the ambulance and a paramedic, who tried to revive the woman following the crash, were taken to the West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, with minor injuries.

Accident investigators were at the scene of the crash for several hours trying to establish what happened. The road between Colney's Road and St Bartholomew's Road was closed during that time.

Paul Henry, acting director of operations for the East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust, said it deeply regretted the accident.

He said the Trust and Suffolk police would launch an immediate investigation into the exact cause of the accident.

“Our thoughts are clearly very much with the deceased woman's family and friends at this time, and we will ensure a full and thorough investigation into the circumstances of the accident,” he added.

Both ambulance crew members were treated at the West Suffolk Hospital for minor injuries.

The ambulance was on route to a patient with a heart problem when it was in collision with the car.

Crew members tried in vain to revive the woman driver of the car, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Last night Pc Dave Skippen of Bury Road Police said: “At the moment all we can say is an ambulance was involved in a collision with a Nissan Micra.

“Unfortunately an elderly woman driving the Micra has died as a result of her injury. We do not know too many details at this stage, but we think the ambulance was travelling towards Sudbury answering an emergency call.

“A witness said the Micra had just pulled out of a junction at St Bartholomew's Road when the accident happened.”

Another ambulance was sent to the original emergency call, but the patient's condition was not believed to be life threatening.

Police are now appealing for anybody who witnessed the accident to contact Pc Roy Dade on 01473 613500.