Two people were taken to hospital following a collision between an ambulance and a car on Melton Road in Leicester on Saturday evening. The incident occurred at around 20:30 BST at the junction where the A46 meets the A607.
According to the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS), the crash happened while the ambulance was transporting a patient to Leicester Royal Infirmary. Fortunately, the patient was not injured during the collision and was later taken to the hospital by another ambulance.
A spokesperson for EMAS confirmed that two individuals in the other vehicle involved sustained minor injuries. They were taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure to undergo further assessment, though their injuries are not believed to be serious.
“We can confirm that none of the paramedics or the patient inside the ambulance was hurt in the incident,” the spokesperson said. “The safety of our patients and crew is our utmost priority, and we are assisting the authorities with their investigation into the crash.”
The incident led to significant traffic disruptions in the area, as Leicestershire Police closed the road to manage the scene.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the police stated that officers were on-site to assist in controlling traffic and directing motorists away from the area. The road was closed at the junction with Watermead Way for several hours before being reopened later in the night.
Local residents reported seeing a large police presence and emergency services responding swiftly to the accident. “We saw the police cordon off the area, and it was quite chaotic for a while,” said one witness. “It’s a busy junction, so the accident caused a lot of delays and confusion for drivers.”
This stretch of road is a key route for both local and through traffic, connecting Leicester with surrounding areas. The police urged drivers to take alternative routes while the scene was being cleared. By late Saturday night, traffic had returned to normal following the reopening of the road.
Though no further injuries were reported, authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the crash.
They have not yet disclosed any details regarding the possible cause of the collision. It is also unclear whether the ambulance was using its sirens and lights at the time of the crash, which could be a factor in the investigation.
EMAS extended its gratitude to the police and other emergency services for their prompt response and assistance at the scene, helping ensure the patient’s care was not compromised.
“Thanks to the quick coordination between services, the patient was safely transferred to another ambulance and taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary without further delay,” the EMAS spokesperson added.
Leicestershire Police have appealed for any witnesses to come forward with information that could help with the ongoing investigation. They are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who may have dashcam footage from the area around the time of the accident.
As of Sunday morning, no further updates have been provided on the condition of those involved in the crash.
