A paramedic who collided with a taxi while medics treated a dying patient in her ambulance will not have the offence appear on her criminal record.
Amanda Keenan, 35, was behind the wheel of the vehicle in Glasgow’s Calton on 24th September, 2023.
Keenan and a crew were transporting a 71-year-old woman to Glasgow Royal Infirmary after her heart had stopped while at home.
Keenan, of Paisley, Renfrewshire, failed to give way or slow down appropriately at a red light.
She proceeded while a taxi – an orange Kia Niro – moved off a green light, resulting in a collision in the middle of the junction.
Keenan pleaded guilty last week at Glasgow Sheriff Court to driving without due care or attention.
Sheriff Tony Kelly deferred conviction until today to determine whether to grant an absolute discharge – which would ensure Keenan’s criminal record remained clean.
The sheriff reviewed CCTV footage of the incident and heard submissions on similar cases from Keenan’s lawyer, Jacqueline White.
White stated: “Miss Keenan advises that she reduced her speed at the junction.
“When she got to the red light, you have to reduce your speed or give way.
“She was attempting to get a patient to hospital while colleagues were attending to the patient.”
Sheriff Kelly granted the absolute discharge, he stated: “In all the circumstances of what happened and what was known to you it is inexpedient to inflict punishment.
“I will not proceed to conviction and that is the end of the matter.”
The court earlier heard that the medics attended the woman’s home as she had difficulties breathing.
A decision was made to transfer her to hospital as the woman had gone into cardiac with Keenan being the driver.
Prosecutor Kirsty McKenzie said: “CPR was being carried out in the back of the ambulance.”
The blue lights and sirens were activated on the vehicle which drove up to London Road at its junction with Arcadia Street.
Miss McKenzie said: “On approach to a red traffic signal, Keenan failed to slow down.
“She proceeded the red light without checking for emerging traffic from the driver’s side.
“A taxi driver emerged from Arcadia Street and when his lights went green he emerged and collided with the driver’s side of the ambulance.”
The hearing was told that the collision left the ambulance unable to be moved.
The fiscal depute stated that there was evidence of brakes being applied by Keenan at the time but she did not “give way.”
Neither Keenan or the taxi driver required hospital treatment. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
It was revealed that Keenan paid a speeding fine months before the incident, though it was unrelated to her employment.