Two dead in New Forest ambulance crash Published duration 26 April 2013

media caption Police are investigating what caused the ambulance to leave the road

The driver and an elderly patient were killed when an ambulance left the road in the New Forest and hit a tree.

Another crew member and a relative of the patient suffered serious injuries in the crash on the A337 Brockenhurst to Lyndhurst road.

A 25-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by driving without due care and attention.

The crew member was airlifted to hospital. The relative was taken by ambulance.

Police said a female paramedic had been driving when the vehicle left the road.

She died at the scene along with the elderly patient, who has not been named.

Police investigating the accident had closed the A337, but the road was reopened on Friday evening.

In a statement a South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust spokesman said the ambulance was on its way to Southampton General Hospital when the crash happened at about 09:35 BST.

Senior investigating officer Insp Kirsty Shannon said: "Contrary to rumours circulating, there is no suggestion any wildlife was involved."

The arrested driver, who was driving a blue Seat Alhambra, was uninjured.