More than two years after a tragic accident claimed the lives of two elderly individuals in an ambulance crash, the families are still seeking answers. Despite the driver admitting guilt for causing death by careless driving, Julie Ijere was not sentenced to jail by the Cambridge Crown Court, leaving the cause of the crash shrouded in mystery.
Julie Ijere, aged 60, received a suspended 20-month prison term and a five-year driving ban, along with the requirement to undergo an extended retest. Detective Inspector Dave McCormack from Suffolk Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit acknowledged the families’ patience in dealing with the tragic incident, expressing that while Ijere took responsibility by pleading guilty, the families are still left without a clear explanation for the collision.
The fatal incident occurred when Ijere, driving a private ambulance with two patients and a colleague towards Newmarket, Suffolk, veered into the opposite lane, causing the ambulance to tip over, resulting in the death of one of the patients, 93-year-old Anthony Dawbarn. The investigation revealed that the ambulance had crossed into oncoming traffic just before colliding with a Volkswagen Golf driven by 70-year-old Jane Blampied.
Despite reviewing CCTV and dashcam footage, authorities found no evidence of distractions inside the ambulance or phone usage by Ijere. Although she was on prescribed medication at the time, there was no indication that it impaired her driving ability. Victim personal statements presented during the hearing highlighted the profound impact of the losses on the families and loved ones of the deceased individuals.
As part of her sentence, Ijere will perform 80 hours of unpaid work, participate in a 15-day rehabilitation program, and pay a victim surcharge of £500 along with £187 in costs.
