The Sentinel
BANGOR, Wales — Supermarket cleaner Kevin Grant has been banned from driving — after crashing into an ambulance he had “tailgated” for almost nine miles.
Grant had driven in the slipstream of the ambulance which was on a 999 call and had its sirens blaring through the North Wales countryside.
But Grant crashed into the ambulance when its worried driver stopped to talk to a police officer.
Three children in Grant’s car and the ambulance driver had to be taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Two extra ambulances had to be despatched to the scene — one to treat the injured and one to help the original patient.
Now Grant, of Bedford Road, Kidsgrove, has been banned from driving for 18 months.
The 26-year-old was also given a 12-month community order and must carry out 250 hours’ unpaid work.
Grant had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on the A494, near Bala, in August.
Caernarfon Magistrates heard that paramedic Simon Worth became aware of Grant’s white Vauxhall Nova as they overtook vehicles.
Julia Galston, prosecuting, said: “The car was effectively tailgating.
“The paramedic became concerned because the car was being driven erratically and at times it was so close behind he could barely see the vehicle through his wing mirrors.”
The court heard Mr Worth called in police to report the driving.
The ambulance was hit as he slowed down to speak to police.
The driving ban means Grant will lose his part-time job at a supermarket because he starts work at 5am and has to travel 15 miles.
Tudur Owen, defending Grant, said: “Mr Grant says the ambulance had braked quite suddenly when his attention had been drawn to the police car.
“As a result he missed seeing that the ambulance was braking.”
Mr Owen said Grant had unwisely fallen into the ambulance’s slipstream and told the court that it was highly unlikely that he would offend again. Magistrate Malcolm Jones said: “We seriously considered sending you to custody.”
Grant, who must sit a re-test at the end of his driving ban, must also pay £75 court costs.
Copyright 2011 The Sentinel (Stoke)
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