INVESTIGATIONS are underway after an ambulance attending a potentially life-threatening emergency call overturned following a collision with a car.

The St John Ambulance was on blue light callout for North-East Ambulance Service when it collided with a Vauxhall Zafira on Sunday night.

The smash happened just after 8.30pm at the Liberty Terrace junction with Blanche Terrace in Tantobie, near Stanley, County Durham, leaving the ambulance on its side.

The crew had been on its way to support a rapid response paramedic at an emergency in nearby Consett at the time.

The driver was not hurt but his passenger suffered a wrist injury.

The Zafira driver, a 31-year-old man from Tanfield Lea and a young girl, were taken to hospital for a check up but not injured.

A spokeswoman for North-East Ambulance Service said: “The driver of the ambulance was uninjured and the passenger had an injury to their arm. It was nothing life-threatening.

“There was no patient in. It was just crew in the vehicle. They were on their way to an incident but they had not got there to collect their patient.”

“We will have to do a full investigation to find out what has happened and we will be doing that in line with St John Ambulance.”

The NEAS spokeswoman said another crew was sent out to take the patient to hospital.

She said: “It was an R2 case so it was potentially life-threatening. They were essentially providing the transport.

“The patient was being looked after but needed hospital treatment. We sent another ambulance crew that was in the area.”

St John Ambulance has confirmed an investigation is underway.

Fred Owen, regional manager of ambulance operations, said the injured crew member was treated for a wrist fracture at University Hospital of North Durham and discharged.

He said: “Both St John Ambulance crew members immediately went to the aid of the occupants of the car to assess them and they were treated appropriately, despite one crew member sustaining a minor injury.  

“The ambulance has now been recovered and a full and ongoing investigation has begun.

“We are thankful that only minor injuries were sustained following the collision and both our crew members acted professionally and with immediate thought for the car’s occupants. 

“Our crew members are being fully supported post incident.”

Durham Constabulary said the road was closed until around 11.40pm while both vehicles were recovered.