A man in his 30s has died after being struck by an ambulance on the A19 near Sunderland, according to BBC News. The incident occurred shortly after 02:00 GMT on the northbound carriageway between the junctions for the A1018 and A690. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The ambulance was transporting a patient at the time of the collision but did not have its blue lights activated when it made contact with the pedestrian. No injuries were sustained by anyone travelling in the ambulance. The driver, a man in his 40s, remained at the location to cooperate with police investigators.
This incident follows a pattern of serious collisions involving emergency vehicles and other road users. In June 2026, a patient died and three others were injured after an ambulance collided with a car on Balmore Road in Glasgow, highlighting the risks that can arise during emergency response operations.
What is the police investigation focusing on?
Northumbria Police's roads policing unit has opened a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision. Officers are actively seeking evidence from members of the public who may have witnessed the incident or captured footage on dashcam or CCTV systems. The investigation will examine factors including the ambulance's operational status, visibility conditions, and the circumstances that led to the collision occurring.
Key Facts
- The collision occurred on the A19 northbound carriageway near Sunderland shortly after 02:00 GMT
- The victim was a man in his 30s who died at the scene
- The ambulance's blue lights were not activated at the time of impact
- The ambulance driver, aged in his 40s, remained at the scene to assist with inquiries
- Police are appealing for dashcam and CCTV footage from the A19 between the A1018 and A690 junctions
