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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