A BUILDER who drove away after his truck smashed into a stationary ambulance as paramedics helped a patient has been jailed for a year.

Jamie Chaney claimed he was ill and must have blacked out when his tipper truck ploughed into the ambulance on Snipes Hill, Sittingbourne, on November 7 last year.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that self-employed Chaney, 32, had shortly before driven through a red traffic light in St Michael’s Road and into railings, bending them out of shape. He reversed and carried on.

Paramedics Sheldon Jury and Lucy Tattersall were tending to elderly Doris Forster, who fell and injured her face while returning from shopping, in the ambulance when the truck hurtled towards them.

Mrs Forster had been given treatment at the side of the road and been helped into the back of the ambulance. The hazard lights were on and clearly visible.

Daniel Fugalo, prosecuting, said one witness described how the tipper drove straight though the ambulance as if it was not there.

“The ambulance was knocked over,” he said. “It bounced, twisted and fell on its side. The truck slowed down and continued for some time to drive extremely slowly and then just drove away from the scene.

“The windscreen of the lorry had been smashed and there was considerable damage to the passenger side. The driver was bleeding from his head. A number of witnesses took note of his number plate.”

The truck was found abandoned in Bapchild soon afterwards. Both paramedics, meanwhile, were bleeding heavily.

Mr Jury had a cut to his head, broken nose and extensive bruising. Miss Tattersall suffered head wounds and bruises. Both were off work for some time and needed trauma counselling.

Mr Fugalo said police were not able to find Chaney but a week later he gave himself up at Sittingbourne police station. He told officers he was trying to get home after feeling sick at work. He said he could not recall hitting the railings but possibly chipped some kind of vehicle.

Chaney said he did not immediately hand himself in because rumours were circulating that someone had died in the ambulance.

Chaney, of The Street, Bapchild, admitted dangerous driving, two charges of failing to stop and two of failing to report an accident.

William Glossop, defending, said the father-of-two had “no particular recollection” of how he came to collide with the ambulance. “He seems to have had some kind of blank,” he said.

Judge Anthony Balston told Chaney: “This is a very sad case which resulted in a very serious accident. Only you know why it might be that the accident happened. I can’t make any speculation about that.

“It was fortunate for you that no one was actually killed. This sort of offence must be dealt with by a custodial sentence.”

Chaney was also banned from driving for two years.