A three-day jury trial has been scheduled for an ambulance driver/EMT charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with a Feb. 27 accident on U.S. 17 in Virginia in which a patient later died.
Matthew Alexander Vancamp, 30, is also charged with reckless driving. He was indicted by a Stafford County grand jury earlier this month and was arraigned Wednesday in Stafford Circuit Court, where his trial is set for Aug. 8–10.
Ms. Samantha Lehmann, 47, of Culpeper, died March 7 at Mary Washington Hospital. She was being transported to a medical facility the morning of Feb. 27 when the private ambulance driven by Vancamp crashed into the back of a tanker truck on southbound U.S. 17 and Hartwood Road.
The collision took place about 0700 hours. The tanker, which was carrying cranberry juice, was stopped when the ambulance struck it from behind.
EMT Vancamp was traveling 60 mph when he struck the rear of the tanker. According to the search warrant, Vancamp told police that he couldn’t see the tanker until it was too late because he was blinded by the sun.
Police wrote that the investigation showed that Vancamp had a clear line of sight for at least 1,900 feet before reaching the tanker yet never decreased his speed.
EMT Vancamp, is free on a $7,500 bond. Involuntary manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
