It all started around 3:50 am at Research Medical Center at Meyer Boulevard and Prospect.
MAST-EMS unit "114" was in the ambulance bay at Research having just dropped off a patient when a man who had been in the Research emergency room awaiting treatment and "in police custody" snuck out and stole Mast Unit-114.
When the theft was discovered and the call when out at 3:58 am- a KC-MO South Patrol officer almost immediately spotted the ambulance at Blue Ridge and westbound Bannister Road.
The officer followed it west until I-435- where the thief turned northbound- speeds increased and the chase was on.
The pursuit went northbound on I-435 for about 11 miles at reported speeds of 90 to 100 mph.
North of I-70- police spiked the ambulance's tires (unfortunately a following MAST supervisor's tires as well)- but the stolen ambulance continued north to Winner Road/U.S. 24 then exited.
Shedding pieces of tire and "equipment" off one of the newest-model MAST units- the thief went east - then south on Winner Road- driving east in the westbound lanes at speeds of 50-60 mph as he entered the Englewood District at 4:13 am..
At 4:15 am where Winner Road meets Chrysler and becomes Lexington- the thief crashed the stolen ambulance east through the Crysler intersection into a pole and tree- coming to rest down a slight incline toward the railroad tracks next to a 2-story blue house- barely missing the structure.
The suspect was unconscious when pursuing officers got to him. The "approximately 45-year-old" man was taken to an area medical trauma center in serious to critical condition.
No one else was hurt- charges are pending and the wrecked MAST ambulance towed to headquarters.
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1 comment:
A shame. Those have to be at least $150,000 ruined. If he was in "police custody" where were the cops who were watching this person? How can you be in custody, and stealing an ambulance? That is the definition of NOT in custody.
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