Minn. Woman Steals Ambulance, Drives 145 Miles

Oct. 10--A Minneapolis, Minnesota woman has been charged after police said she stole an ambulance from an Arlington Heights hospital and drove it about 145 miles south to the village of Rantoul early Friday morning.

Samantha Sligar, 27, was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, according to a statement from Rantoul police.

An ambulance crew was dropping off a patient at Northwest Community Hospital in the northwest suburb about 4 a.m. Friday, according to the Arlington Heights fire department. When the crew returned the ambulance was gone.

A woman took the ambulance and fled the area. She was later spotted by Matteson police traveling southbound on Interstate 57, according to Illinois State Police.

By 6:30 a.m., police had stopped the ambulance along I-57 near exit 250, according to the Rantoul Police Department. No injuries were reported.

Rantoul police said when they responed at 5:36 a.m. the ambulance was using its siren and running vehicles off the road while southbound at I-57.

A request for "stop sticks" was made and the state police terminated their pursuit of it at the Ford and Champaign County line. Rantoul officers waited for the ambulance and at 6:13 a.m. it was located and stopped at 6:15 a.m., police said.

Sligar was taken into custody without incident. She was taken to the Champaign County Correctional Center, police said.

Arlington Heights police Commander Rick Kappelman said the charge is a felony.

A mugshot of Sligar was not immediately available.

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