A fireman killed a motorist when he shot through r

A fireman killed a motorist when he shot through red lights racing to rescue a woman trapped in a lift, the Old Bailey heard.

Mark Stewart, 35, had his siren blaring and lights flashing even though it was a non emergency call.

He smashed into the side of a Peugeot 106 crossing the junction at Burgh Green, Surrey, and the driver Mr Mark Burns, 24, from Epsom, never regained consciousness.

Prosecutor Mr Derek Zeitlin told the court emergency service drivers can go though red lights at their discretion but must treat them as give way signs.

‘To do anything else would be to play Russian Roulette with people using that junction,’ he said.

The court heard Stewart and his crew were attending a call when the tragedy happened.

‘It was in fact a call from an elderly person who was trapped in a lift in some way.

It was not obviously life threatening,’ Mr Zeitlin said.

Steward said he noticed two vehicles pass through the junction at of Tattenham Way and Reigate Road, in Burgh Green.

‘He then says that in effect he saw a flash to his left which was in fact Mr Mark Burns’ vehicle and he collided with it.

‘The front of the fire engine collided with the side of the Peugeot.

‘

The crew jumped out of the engine and used their own gear to help cut the driver free.

But Mr Burns’ condition never stabilised and he died in hospital.

Mr Burns, a single man from Ewell, worked for his father’s heating and plumbing firm as an engineer.

Stewart, of Lower Court Road, Epsom, denies causing death by dangerous driving on December 28, 1999.

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