Ambulance trust receives complaints about paramedic driving before crash that killed colleague

A coroner has criticized an ambulance trust for failing to properly handle complaints related to a paramedic’s driving before he killed a junior colleague in a crash.

Alice Clark, 21, was seriously injured when Edward Riding’s ambulance crashed into the back of a cement truck, according to the investigation.

Staff at the South East Coast Ambulance Service had previously complained about Riding’s driving “standards” but found these were “not dealt with appropriately”.

Roger Hatch, senior coroner for North West Kent, said if the criticism was dealt with appropriately it could “change the outcome” for Ms Clark, who has only been in the job for a few weeks.

An inquest heard that Ms Clark died in the line of duty on January 5, 2022, when the ambulance she was traveling in crashed into a lorry on the A21 near Tonbridge, Kent.

Primary paramedic Riding and a third passenger were heading to the emergency scene when the ambulance hit a curb, bounced off a parked truck and then hit the back of a cement truck.

Mr Hatch said the impact of the collision caused the vehicle to “embed” into the back of the truck, trapping the driver and Ms Clark inside.

The third passenger, a student paramedic who was sitting in the back seat, was able to get out of the car but suffered a severe concussion.

Despite attempts by Helicopter EMS and Kent Fire and Rescue Service to rescue Ms Clark, she died at the scene.

Earlier this year, Ryder admitted he died as a result of careless driving.

The coroner said: “Alice Clark’s death was caused by a road traffic collision but the South East Coast Ambulance Service failed to investigate complaints they had received from other staff.” [the driver] If action is taken, the results may change.

During the investigation, it was learned that other nursing passengers had also received complaints about the “unsafe driving standards” of the ride.

“These issues are not being dealt with appropriately,” Mr Hatch said. “I’m worried this could happen in the future and be life-threatening.”

He said there was “no formal complaints procedure”, adding: “I am concerned by evidence that carers made complaints to their supervisors and no written record/statement was taken and carers were not updated on the investigation /result.

“I fear that without a complaints procedure that includes taking statements, interviews and time limits, lives could be at risk.”

The coroner further noted that driving standards were assessed through “drives” by managers and recommended that this should be carried out by an independent assessor.

Mr Hatch sent a Prevention of Future Deaths report to the South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.

“She’s beautiful, kind and funny”

Speaking of their daughter, Ms Clark’s parents said: “Alice is delighted to have qualified as a paramedic and looks forward to every shift.

“She was a beautiful, kind, funny daughter, sister and granddaughter. She loved traveling and was loved by anyone who met her.

“Family and friends will have no words to express their thoughts about her.”

Paying tribute to Ms Clark’s Paddock Wood base manager, Giovanni Mazza, said: “Although Alice was only with us for a short time, she was already part of our ambulance family. We will be remembered as a kind and dedicated caregiver.

“She will be deeply and sadly missed by her colleagues and we send our love and prayers to her family and friends at this terrible time.”

Riding, 45, of Crowborough, East Sussex, admitted causing death by careless and inconsiderate driving in January this year.

In April, he was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court to nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

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