Road Safety Event - When a short drive to the supermarket ends in a preventable tragedy

Despite the passage of time, Paramedic Team Leader Ewan Hoggan isn’t ashamed to admit being overcome with emotion when recalling one life-changing call out.

Thinking of that day – and the young life lost through the actions of another – can still reduce Ewan to near tears.

With 20 years’ service, Ewan is currently on secondment in Orkney from his usual Falkirk base.

In the run up to a Road Safety Event here in Kirkwall on Saturday 2 July, he shared one particularly stark memory of life as a paramedic.

“I started a 12-hour shift at 8am when the call came in ten minutes later to attend at a road traffic collision on a busy road near a supermarket (not in Orkney). There were two young male occupants of a small Peugeot car which had pulled out into oncoming traffic and overtaken a delivery lorry. They collided with the front offside of the lorry, spinning the car. The passenger side of the car took most of the impact.

“We assessed the two occupants and decided their injuries were life threatening. We instructed the Fire Service to get the occupants out of the car as fast and safely as possible.

“I took care of the passenger and my colleague the driver. The patient I was attending to had obvious injuries to his head and chest, not responding, still had a pulse but his breathing was laboured. I got him into the back of the ambulance with the help of the fire service.

“My colleague reported no obvious injuries on the driver but still couldn’t get a response out of him. Although noted there was a strong smell of alcohol. As he was not responding we assumed the worst and the additional crew transported him into emergency resus department.”

Ewan and his colleague concentrated their efforts on the passenger of the car who was in a bad way and alerted the local hospital as time was critical.

“We got another member of the ambulance service to drive and with blue lights and sirens we made our way to the hospital, continuing our treatment of the patient en route. He was still alive when we arrived.

“Unfortunately, after spending some time in hospital, the passenger later died.

“The driver had no injuries and was pretending to be unresponsive throughout. He was intoxicated.

“Every time I pass the scene of this accident, I recall events as if it was yesterday. Two young lives and families destroyed through drink driving.”

Thankfully no other motorists or pedestrians were hurt during the incident – but they could have been.

That is the risk you take when you get behind the wheel when under the influence of alcohol or drugs. That is the risk you take when speeding, when glancing at your mobile phone or texting, when driving a poorly maintained vehicle, when tired…think about your actions – think about the potential consequences.

“All concerned were devastated, what turned out to be a short drive to the supermarket ended up a life changing event.

“In Orkney a serious road traffic crash/fatality is felt by everyone. This has a massive impact on the immediate family concerned. The wider community also shares in the ongoing grief.”

Ewan believes the solution lies in educating from a young age in schools and public places; hosting regular road safety events, continuing regular police spot checks and a visible presence and speed cameras.

Ultimately, motorists themselves and how they drive is key to saving lives on our roads.

“Drive to the road conditions, stick to the speed limits and consider other road users/pedestrians. Don’t drink/drug drive - take the bus or taxi and don’t get into a car with anyone you suspect of drink /drug driving – I battled to save the life of a young man who paid the ultimate price for this. That early morning run to the supermarket cost him dearly.”