In a bizarre turn of events on Wednesday night, a patient took off with an ambulance in Santa Rosa while paramedics were tending to a medical emergency. The Sonoma County Fire District detailed the theft at approximately 8:40 p.m. after crew members responded to an urgent call on Fourth Street. The incident escalated when the patient, who was being treated, seized the moment to commandeer the ambulance, fleeing with the vehicle while an emergency medical technician was still inside, as per KRON4's report.
According to the Fire District, the ambulance paramedic, busy with the patient outside the vehicle, was unaware as the patient darted into the driver's seat. The high-speed chase involved the Santa Rosa Police Department, which used spike strips to stop the stolen ambulance and apprehend the suspect. While in the back of the vehicle during the chase, the EMT's safety hung precariously in the balance.
The Santa Rosa Police Department acted swiftly to wrestle control from the renegade patient. After a pursuit, officers deployed spike strips, ending the chase and allowing for the suspect's arrest, as indicated by the Fire District's statement in an X post.
The Sonoma County Fire District expressed relief following the high-stakes incident: "We are so thankful that our crew members were not injured in this incident." The safety of the emergency medical technician, thrown into an unplanned and perilous ride, was of top priority during the ordeal. The medical equipment on board was valued at thousands, and the safety of the public and the personnel involved remained at the forefront of first responders' concerns throughout the unexpected theft.
At 8:40p.m. on May 1, a Sonoma County Fire District Paramedic ambulance was stolen while at the scene of a medical emergency call in Santa Rosa.
— Sonoma County Fire District (@SoCoFireDist) May 2, 2024
We are so thankful that our crew members were not injured in this incident. Santa Rosa Police Officers arrested the suspect. pic.twitter.com/HX5SXkePXo
