Driver 'lost control' before fatal ambulance crash

Lauren McFarland was an accomplished horse rider and keen traveller

A "beautiful, confident" young woman died in a head-on crash with an ambulance after she lost control of her car on her way to work, an inquest heard.

Lauren McFarland, 30, was fatally injured on the A66 near Burns Farm, east of Keswick, on the morning of 11 January 2024.

Cockermouth Coroners' Court heard her Fiat Punto moved into the opposite carriageway and crashed with a North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) vehicle whose driver had no time to react.

The paramedic and her colleague helped remove Ms McFarland from the car and started CPR, but she had suffered multiple traumatic injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Paramedic Abigail Routledge was returning to Keswick with a colleague after a nightshift when the crash happened.

There were no patients in the ambulance at the time, nor were blue lights activated.

Coroner Margaret Taylor said: "We know from the investigation report that she had no opportunity to avoid the collision.

"Even if she had attempted to react to the appearance of Lauren's car, she would not have been able to brake or steer her vehicle in a manner that would have avoided that collision."

'No evidence of phone use'

A police crash investigator who examined the Punto found there was damage to a rear offside wheel rim, causing air to escape from the tyre.

"What we don't know is whether or not this contributed to the collision and her loss of control of the car," concluded Ms Taylor.

"It is possible the air was lost upon impact, but it is a possibility that it may have affected her ability to control the car."

The police investigator said it was also possible Ms McFarland may have been distracted by something inside or outside her vehicle.

There was no evidence of phone use at the time, the inquest heard.

Ms Taylor concluded that Ms McFarland died as a result of a road traffic collision.

In a tribute issued after her death, Ms McFarland's family said: "She was a beautiful, confident and caring person who loved the outdoors and adventure".

She was an accomplished horse rider, competitive trail runner and keen traveller.