Rosemary Fenney, 40, died instantly in the crash last October

Ian Fitzgerald, 29, drove through a red light at up to 40 miles per hour before hitting 40-year-old Rosemary Fenney's Peugeot 206, jurors at Reading Crown Court were told.

Mrs Fenney, a schoolteacher from Newbury, Berkshire, died instantly from multiple injuries to the head and chest in the crash at the junction of the A4 London Road and Firtree Lane, near Newbury, on 6 October 2002.

Mr Fitzgerald, who was driving a Mercedes Sprinter ambulance for the Royal Berkshire Ambulance Service, denies causing death by dangerous driving.

'Weaving or rocking'

The jury heard how Mr Fitzgerald, from Trowbridge, Wiltshire, had successfully completed an advanced ambulance driving course in 2002.

During the training, he was told to treat red lights like give-way signs and stop if necessary.

But the prosecution claims Mr Fitzgerald went through the A4 lights at too great a speed, without slowing down sufficiently, and also did so without paying adequate attention to other road users.

"In particular he did not pay adequate attention to Mrs Fenney's car because he collided with it as her Peugeot was being driven quite lawfully across the junction," Neil Moore, prosecuting, said.

A witness who was washing his car in the minutes before the crash, saw an ambulance, believed to be Mr Fitzgerald's, being driven at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour.

He said it appeared to be "weaving or rocking from side to side," Mr Moore said.

The trial continues.