Skip to content

Paramedic guilty of death by careless driving

Eddie Mitchell An ambulance which has crashed into a bus stop. The image shows the right side of the ambulance. Its front wing and wheel are badly damagedEddie Mitchell
The ambulance driven by Craig Chitty crashed near a parade of shops in Salfords, near Redhill, Surrey

A paramedic has been found guilty of causing death by careless driving after crashing his ambulance into a bus stop in Surrey, killing a pedestrian.

Craig Chitty, 41, was driving the ambulance but was not responding to an emergency when he lost control of the vehicle in Brighton Road, Redhill, on 5 August 2021.

Carmel Ryder, 39, died at the scene after the South East Coast Ambulance vehicle crashed into the bus stop while she was waiting.

Chitty, of Effingham in Leatherhead, will be sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on 20 December.

Family handout A family handout image of Carmel Ryder, who was killed after she was struck by an ambulance while waiting at a bus stop. Carmel is wearing a black top and smiling. She has ginger hair and is stood in front of some green plantsFamily handout
Hair stylist Carmel Ryder grew up in Shepherds Bush, London, and settled in Salfords with her partner Barry

The paramedic was carrying a patient to hospital in a non-emergency situation at the time of the crash.

He was found not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving during the same trial.

Ms Ryder, a hairstylist, was described by her family as a much-loved fiancée, daughter, sister, aunt and friend.

Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook and on X. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.

More on this story
Related internet links