A District Court judge has found a South Australian paramedic not guilty of causing a patient’s death by dangerous driving.
Matthew James McLean, 42, was transporting Karen Biddell, 48, from Port Pirie to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 2016 when he crashed on Port Wakefield Road.

During the trial, the prosecution blamed fatigue, with Mr McLean having worked 11 shifts in 12 days after volunteering to work overtime.

But Mr McLean’s lawyers argued he was suffering from an undiagnosed sleep disorder at the time of the crash.
He had pleaded not guilty.
The District Court had heard that the bariatric patient was being transported from her home in Port Pirie to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment when the accident occurred
Ambulance Employees Association general secretary Phil Palmer expressed his condolences to Ms Biddel’s family and friends.

He said the long-awaited verdict brought four years “of hell” to end for Mr McLean and his family.
He said paramedics in South Australia often struggled with fatigue on the job and did not get enough support from their employer or the government.

“We’re all worried about fatigue but in this case, at this time, we’re just relishing the moment that Mr McLean can walk free and know he’s not facing jail, go home and tell his kids that daddy’s going to be home from now on,” Mr Palmer said.

“Every ambo in South Australia was behind him, we’ve been getting messages all day — ambos from all over Australia will be relieved by this.