Investigation to find out how boy was hit by 999 ambulance in London Road Bath
An investigation will resume today into an incident in which an 11-year-old boy was struck by an ambulance answering a 999 call in Bath.
The youngster – understood to be a Year 7 pupil at Ralph Allen School– suffered a serious head injury and is being treated at Frenchay Hospital, in Bristol.
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The investigation in London Road
This lunchtime a hospital spokeswoman said his condition was stable.
He had been crossing London Road at Snow Hill on his way home from school with friends just after 4pm yesterday when the ambulance – which eyewitnesses say was on the wrong side of the road – collided with him.
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He suffered a serious head injury in the incident and the ambulance – which it is understood was en route to an emergency in Swainswick – took him to the Royal United Hospital. Later last night, he was transferred to Frenchay, which has a specialist head injury unit.
Two senior South Western Ambulance Service officials drove from the organisation’s headquarters to Bath last night to help with the official police collision investigation and to offer help to their crew.
For some time, the boy’s rucksack remained in the centre of the A4 as a police team measured up and placed evidence signs on the carriageway.
The incident happened on the inbound side of the road, which remained closed for some time last night.
Police have erected a witness appeal sign at the scene close to the junction with Snow Hill asking people who saw what happened to call them on 101.
An Avon and Somerset spokeswoman said: "We would ask that anyone who was in the area at the time and witnessed the collision to contact us on 101.
"You may have valuable information to help us with our enquiries.
"Obviously this was a very traumatic incident and our thoughts are with the young boy and his family at this time.
"We would also like to thank motorists for their understanding while the road was closed last night."
The ambulance service was unable to confirm which side of the road the vehicle had been travelling on, and said its hands were now tied because a police investigation was under way.
The ambulance was given clearance by police to leave the scene because of the boy’s injuries, but returned later in the evening to be examined and was eventually taken away on a low loader.
A statement from the ambulance service yesterday said: “At 4.01pm this afternoon, an ambulance crew responding to a 999 emergency reported to our clinical hub that they had struck a child near the junction with London Road and Snow Hill in Bath. They reported the child had suffered a significant head injury.
“The patient was placed in the ambulance and taken by the crew straight to Royal United Hospital where he is now being treated. Due to the serious condition of the patient, police gave permission for the ambulance to leave the scene to take him to hospital.
“Clearly our primary concern is for the patient and his family – senior executives from South Western Ambulance Service have travelled to Bath and will offer to meet with the family. We are also ensuring the crew involved are fully supported.
“We are also working closely with the police to ensure the circumstance surrounding this serious incident are fully investigated.”
Elsewhere, the traffic chaos was intensified by a jack-knifed lorry at Limpley Stoke, affecting the A36 around Brassknocker Hill, and an accident on the A46 at Swainswick.
5 Comments
by Imp-Act
Friday, March 08 2013, 2:31PM
“It's very sad for all involved and I just hope that this little lad recovers 100%!”
by KazVan
Friday, March 08 2013, 1:29PM
“Apologies for the spelling - need to check before I submit!!”
by KazVan
Friday, March 08 2013, 1:27PM
“I also tried to post a comment to the original story. I would like to say my thoughts are with the boy and his family, together with all the witnesses and the emergency crews involved. It may be that no one is to blame - the emergency vehicles were just doing their job, responding to a 999 call and that maybe the boy was just not quite quck enough in crossing the road. Just imagine what the crew involved are going through, having to respond to that incident whilst on route to another. I agree with woodruff 70, in that I hope they were not responding to a hoax call, and that the patient from the "geniune" call, was helped without delay.”
by Blargle
Friday, March 08 2013, 12:55PM
“I was on the bus with that guy about an hour before it happened :(”
by woodruff70
Friday, March 08 2013, 12:40PM
“Tried to post to the original story but there seems to be a constant problem with downloading on this site - I would just like to pass my thoughts on to this young lad's family. It must be an horrendous situation for them and my heart goes out to them. I just hope to God that the original 999 call was a genuine call-out and not one of the many hoaxes which blight the emergency services throughout the country.”