Paramedic denies careless driving that led to crash

A paramedic from Newtown is set to face trial next year after denying charges of causing serious injury by careless driving.

According to the Powys County Times, Eileen Ann Ireland, a 60-year-old resident of Bryn Lane, Llanllwchaiarn, was driving an ambulance on the A483 between Llananno and Llanbadarn Fynydd on July 30, 2022, when a collision occurred with a motorcycle.

Ireland appeared at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Wednesday, December 20, where she formally entered a not guilty plea to the charges.

This comes after she initially denied the offence at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court last month.

The incident in question took place while Ireland was driving a Welsh Ambulance Service Trust ambulance, specifically a Mercedes Sprinter.

She is accused of causing an accident that resulted in Sandra Dawson, a passenger on a motorcycle, sustaining "catastrophic, life-threatening injuries".

The upcoming trial, estimated to last three days, is scheduled to begin on April 10, 2024.