Calif. Woman Steals Ambulance, Leads Police in 40-Mile Chase

Los Angeles Times

Apr. 3—A woman allegedly stole an unoccupied ambulance from a downtown Los Angeles hospital and used the emergency vehicle to lead police on a nearly 40-mile pursuit to Chino Hills early Tuesday morning, authorities said.

Paramedics were transferring a patient into the California Hospital Medical Center near Grand Avenue around 12:30 a.m. when the woman jumped into the ambulance and drove off, according to a statement issued by the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Los Angeles police began pursuing the ambulance at a slow speed before the woman drove onto the 10 Freeway, where she was chased by the California Highway Patrol.

After driving at speeds approaching 65 mph, the woman eventually surrendered to the CHP on the 71 Freeway South near Chino Hills around 1:15 a.m., according to Officer Rodrigo Jimenez, public information officer for the agency's Baldwin Park Station.

The woman is being held on suspicion of vehicle theft, according to an LAPD spokeswoman, who did not provide the suspect's name.

No emergency personnel or patients were injured, according to the LAFD.