Ambulance driver on trial over pedestrian death

On a fine summer's morning, three days before Christmas 1999, 85-year-old Marjorie McGill began crossing the road outside her St Heliers Bay home clutching two letters in her hand.

The elderly pensioner, who disliked wearing her hearing aid and had poor peripheral vision, made slow progress towards the post box on the other side of Long Drive.

Turned away from oncoming traffic, she never saw what hit her.

A St John ambulance heading to a "Priority One" emergency in the central city ploughed into her, throwing her onto the road. She later died.

The ambulance driver, 28 year-old Brendan Douglas McInnes, this week stands trial in the Auckland District Court on one charge of dangerous driving causing death and an alternative charge of careless use of a motor vehicle.

The Crown says McInnes was speeding and did not have the siren on when he turned down Long Drive heading towards the city.

In her opening address, Crown prosecutor Gina de Graaff said McInnes was on his way to an emergency but "driving to an emergency is not a licence to kill."

McInnes was allegedly travelling about 90 km/h to 95 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, and told police he remembered braking "slightly" when he saw Mrs McGill.

When she did not notice him from 300 metres away, he swore and blasted the horn but she remained in his path.

Ms de Graaff said McInnes told police he thought he would be able to stop in time to avoid Mrs McGill.

"But he didn't. It was too late. His brakes locked up and in front of a number of horrified witnesses the vehicle skidded down Long Drive."

Mrs McGill was struck by the driver's side of the ambulance and was flung onto the bonnet before landing some distance away.

Her injuries were so severe that doctors abandoned resuscitation attempts soon after she arrived at hospital.

Ms de Graaff said that another ambulance officer, who was travelling in the passenger seat, heard McInnes say "Well, that's it. My career's f*****. It's been nice working with you," before getting out to help Mrs McGill.

More than 20 witnesses would give evidence, some of whom allegedly saw the ambulance travelling so fast it appeared to be out of control.

St John guidelines allowed ambulance drivers to exceed the speed limit by 30 km/h when travelling to emergencies.

Ms de Graaff believed McInnes was counting on Mrs McGill to move out of the way.

"He used devices to get her attention by sound but in doing so he cut down the safety margin that may have allowed him to stop.

"She died as a direct result of those misjudgments."

McInnes wore his St John Ambulance uniform in court and other ambulance officers lent support.

Ms de Graaff warned the jury to put aside feelings of sympathy for McInnes or respect which they may hold for the ambulance service.