A patient who police say broke free from restraints and stole an ambulance on Sunday is in custody after leading police on a chase through the Inland Empire.
The pursuit began in Lake Elsinore about 3:30 pm. A Mission Ambulance Employee told the Press Enterprise that the patient, who was wearing only a pair of pants, confronted the two paramedics inside the vehicle. The paramedics exited the vehicle and the man took the wheel and drove away.
BREAKING: CHP in pursuit of a stolen Ambulance in the Inland Empire. A patient restrained in the back of the ambulance apparently broke free and took the ambulance. Pursuit on 15 north. Live on @NBCLA app pic.twitter.com/1FcyxEu5DL
— Rick Montanez (@RickNBCLA) December 17, 2018
One of the paramedics was cut on her hand during the scuffle.
Authorities followed the ambulance, attempting to use spike strips to stop the ambulance – but, the suspect drove around them. The ambulance eventually crashed into a fence in Hesperia.
After colliding with the fence, the fled on foot into the desert field where they were spotted by a police helicopter and taken into custody.
There were no reported injuries.
