Ambulance overturns after near-miss with car

An ambulance on an emergency call has overturned after a car pulled out in front of it on a main road and drove off.

The South Central Ambulance Service vehicle veered off the A339 near Alton, Hampshire, at about 23:15 BST on 20 September, police said.

Officers are trying to trace the white car - possibly a Ford Fiesta or Focus - that joined the road from Spain Lane.

The ambulance, which was not carrying any patients, suffered damage estimated at £26,000 and will be out of action for a month, police said. No-one was injured in the crash.

Dashcam footage from the emergency vehicle showed it was travelling at 72mph (116km/h) in a 50mph (80km/h) limit when the car pulled out.

With about two seconds to react, the ambulance driver swerved into thick undergrowth, the video suggested.

Hampshire police said the vehicle, which was on a blue light run, landed on its side in a ditch.

Officers said the incident caused a considerable and potentially life-threatening delay in getting to a patient, who had to be sent another ambulance instead.

They have appealed for witnesses and dashcam footage from other drivers.