No jail for paramedic who killed man on crossing

Wednesday 17 October 2012

A PARAMEDIC on an emergency call who knocked down and killed a 70-year-old disabled man has been spared jail.

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At the High Court in Glasgow, 56-year-old Campbell Fisher was ordered to perform 150 hours of community service and was banned from driving for four years after the court was told the family of the victim did not wish him to go to prison.

Fisher admitted causing the death of Robert Cunningham by careless driving at Prestwick Road, Ayr, on November 19, 2010.He was originally charged with causing death by dangerous driving, but the Crown accepted his guilty plea to the reduced charge.Mr Cunningham was crossing at a pedestrian crossing when he was struck by the ambulance.Sentencing Fisher, judge Lady Stacey said: "In all the circumstances I do not find it necessary to impose a prison sentence in view of your previous good character and lack of previous convictions."Solicitor advocate John Scott QC, defending, told the court Fisher has worked with the Scottish Ambulance Service for 21 years – seven of them as a paramedic. He said Fisher was remorseful and added: "As a result of this incident he was unable to continue with driving duties. "However, he has been working in ambulances with a driver and has continued to play a most valuable role in the Ayrshire area."Advocate depute Iain McSporran, prosecuting, said: "While the bulk of the evidence points strongly to Mr Cunningham using the crossing properly and only crossing when the red light had stopped traffic ... there is evidence suggesting he was either oblivious to the flashing blue lights and siren of the ambulance or had elected to cross notwithstanding the situation. "Medical opinion is that a combination of his medication and some alcohol he had had that day may have resulted in a decreased appreciation of speed and proximity of traffic."

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No jail for paramedic who killed man on crossing

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