Charges over deadly crash put ambulance drivers on alert

Ambulance drivers are nervously awaiting the trial of a colleague who faces court next month on dangerous driving charges.

Ambulance driver Matthew McLean outside court. Picture: Bernard Humphreys

Ambulance drivers are nervously awaiting the trial of one of their South Australian colleagues who faces court next month on dangerous driving charges after an ambulance he was driving rolled over and killed a morbidly obese ­patient in 2016.

The case raises serious questions about fatigue, rostering and work breaks for the nation’s emergency services workers, and may even trigger industrial action ­depending on its result.

Angry ambulance drivers in South Australia cannot believe 42-year-old driver Matthew McLean has been charged over the accident, which happened more than eight hours into a night shift that he and his crew were ordered to start 30 minutes earlier than usual.

There is no suggestion Mr McLean was affected by drugs or alcohol, and speed played no part in the crash. The father of four has an impeccable driving record and was obeying all SA Ambulance Service protocols when the crash occurred. SA Ambulance Employees Association president Phil Palmer said Mr McLean’s case would have ramifications not just for ambulance drivers but all emergency services workers who were required to drive at night during long shifts.

He said there was “genuine anger” about the treatment of Mr McLean, who was flanked by about 20 ambulance drivers in displays of solidarity at his court ­appearances so far.

“Every ambulance officer in Australia is appalled that the ­Director of Public Prosecutions is putting a good bloke who was just doing his job through the wringer,” Mr Palmer said.

“This has huge implications that go beyond ambulance workers. He was obeying the road rules, there was no alcohol or drugs, he was obeying every procedure and protocol of the Ambulance Service including their fatigue management policy.

“There is no indication or evidence that he was sleepy. If Matt thought that he was sleepy he would not have driven. He’s a ­responsible guy who is motivated only by the desire to help people.”

Mr McLean was reported by police after the fatal accident where the ambulance rolled over on Port Wakefield Road, killing patient Karen Biddell, 48, and ­injuring her daughter. The $240,000 bariatric ambulance, a five-tonne Mercedes 518 Sprinter designed and equipped to carry obese patients, was travelling towards Adelaide on a straight stretch of road when the accident occurred at 2.48am in August 2016.

Before the crash Mr McLean and his team had to cut a hole in a wall inside Ms Biddell’s house as she was unable to fit through the doorway.

Since the accident, Mr McLean has been removed from ambulance driving and is performing other duties while he awaits trial.

Mr Palmer said the case had “totally turned Matt’s life upside down”. “I don’t mean this to sound patronising but Matt is an innocent, he’s just a genuinely nice bloke without a bad or reckless bone in his body,” Mr Palmer said.

“He is devastated by this, as we all are. It is terribly sad that someone died, but Matt was just doing his job. Ambos are going to start reconsidering night driving if they are going to get thrown under the bus the way Matt is.”

In the days after the crash, the former SA Ambulance Service head Jason Killens confirmed the crew involved in the accident were more than eight hours into a night shift when the rollover occurred.

The paramedics started the shift at 6pm on Monday, and were due to knock off at 6.30am on Tuesday. Mr Killens said the crews had sufficient breaks for the amount of time worked.

“The initial review suggests there were no issues with working time,” he said. He said it was not uncommon to transfer patients at night “dependent on the clinical condition of a patient”.

The trial is listed to begin in the District Court on March 16.