Ann Arbor man at U-M emergency room drives away in ambulance
A Huron Valley Ambulance vehicle is back in circulation after being taken for a joyride late Friday by a man waiting in the University of Michigan Hospital's Emergency Room.
A man drove away in a Huron Valley Ambulance vehicle late Friday.
U-M police spokeswoman Diane Brown said the driver of another ambulance saw the man drive by and didn't recognize him. The HVA employee reported the incident and the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office caught up with the unknown driver on Huron River Drive near the entrance of Washtenaw Community College.
The vehicle was pulled over and the driver was arrested. He is 19-years-old, from Ann Arbor, but not affiliated with the University of Michigan.
The suspect was taken back to the ER for evaluation. Brown says that it is likely he was intoxicated. He was then taken to jail waiting for charges to be authorized and then arraigned.
Brown says there are likely to be multiple charges against him including unlawful driving away of an automobile.
Further details, including why the man initially sought medical attention, were not immediately clear.
Lisa Carolin is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com.
Comments
mady
Mon, Mar 4, 2013 : 7:05 p.m.
Roy and Johnny, get outa the way!!!!!!
mun
Mon, Mar 4, 2013 : 3:17 p.m.
Someone loves "Cannonball Run."
grimmk
Mon, Mar 4, 2013 : 6:07 a.m.
I couldn't help it. I LOLed.
JRW
Mon, Mar 4, 2013 : 2:48 a.m.
I will look forward to seeing the photo and name of this miscreant once he is arraigned......
DJBudSonic
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 4:55 p.m.
I would never do anything like this nowadays, because you might get shot or charged with terrorism, but... Many years ago while driving to Chicago for a long weekend, we were stopped at an off-ramp gas station, and my friend 'Kurt' said - "Pick me up at the next exit!" then proceeded to scurry over and hop into an Indiana State Trooper car that was left idling by the curb and drove off onto the highway. I followed as soon as our other two friends came out of the bathroom, and sure enough, there he was found, standing at the intersection of the next off ramp, with the cop car off to the side of the road, lights flashing... it seemed cool when I was 21, but I suspect that would go badly today, with cell phones, cameras, gps and the rest. Kids, don't steal emergency vehicles, no matter how tempting or how long your wait has been.
notnecessary
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 11:53 p.m.
Not saying what your friend did was good or commendable but your first sentence illustrates what a sad state of affairs we are in today.
Skyjockey43
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 2:53 p.m.
I'm having flashbacks of Robert DeNiro in Heat
Nicholas Urfe
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 2:25 p.m.
I was hoping he drove himself to another hospital because the lines were too long, or the prices at the "non-profit" tax-exempt hospital were too high.
LXIX
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 1:08 p.m.
Had to go visit his buddy - the Big Blue Bus hijacker - out in Ypsi.
badge823
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 12:48 p.m.
And he got the keys from the ambulance how ... Keys left in ignition? Ambulance left with engine running? Could HVA be somewhat at fault? Come on reporters, do a little investigating! How was he able to take the ambulance?
DitchDoctor
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 6:48 p.m.
Fire trucks, Ambulances, Police Cars, your own vehicle should be locked at all times when left unsupervised, running or not.. If you tempt a criminal, they will react.. Is it right? No.. Do criminals care? No..
Fat Bill
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 6:01 p.m.
Are you blaming the victim here? Isn't that like saying a woman was raped because she dressed provocatively? Many a fire truck is left running on the side of the road, it helps recharge batteries that have been drained by warning equipment and scene lighting...ambulances have similar electrical loads.
jcj
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 1:09 p.m.
Never been to an emergency room eh? They ALWAYS leave the engine running. It is not like they are staying for dinner. When is the last time you heard of an ambulance being stolen from anywhere? I know it has happened but when?
Tru2Blu76
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 11:56 a.m.
Isn't U of M Hospital on U of M property? I only ask because we already know that Super Security Sue has banned ambulance theft on campus. This anonymous miscreant should have known that. ;-)
DitchDoctor
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 3:42 a.m.
Oh AA.com moderators, why oh why was my reply removed? Simple explanation would suffice..
DitchDoctor
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 6:43 p.m.
I guess I might of implied somehow that if you leave you unlocked and running ambulance idling unsupervised, it might be suspect to theft.. That in turn places blame of the loss of the ambulance on the ambulance service (the victim) and not the thief thus blames the victim which is a no-no..
dading dont delete me bro
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 2:11 a.m.
shouldve driven it like he stole it. fail.
Ron Burgandy
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 2:08 a.m.
"Ladies and gentlemen, can I please have your attention. I've just been handed an urgent and shocking news story. I need all of you, to stop what you're doing and listen...There was an intoxicated 19-year old at the U of M emergency room on a Friday night! Shocking, I know."
UncleMao
Mon, Mar 4, 2013 : 2:57 p.m.
Cannonball!
Piledriver
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 1:55 a.m.
Thought maybe it was Dr. Richard Kimble from "The Fugitive".
psaume23
Mon, Mar 4, 2013 : midnight
Even better: The TV show starring David Janssen as Richard Kimble.
DJBudSonic
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 4:57 p.m.
Love that movie - Harrison Ford is one of my favorites.
EyeHeartA2
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 1:38 a.m.
" Brown says that it is likely he was intoxicated. " That part was obvious, to even the most casual observer.
Jay Thomas
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 12:04 a.m.
He just wanted to get to WCCC as quickly as possible to get his learn on. What do you all have against edumacation anyway?
GoNavy
Sat, Mar 2, 2013 : 11:56 p.m.
Proof that going to U of M's emergency room virtually ensures that you "won't be seen." That includes being seen taking an emergency vehicle.
JRW
Mon, Mar 4, 2013 : 2:50 a.m.
Great comment!
PineyWoodsGuy
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 4:30 a.m.
Roger on that Squid! Univ Hosp ER is Third World status. I salute the workers in the ER because they are doing the best they can with what they have. No support from higher Univ Hosp management. It's all about the money and Univ Hosp higher management is struggling to "hit the numbers." More's the pity . . .
quetzalcoatl
Sat, Mar 2, 2013 : 11:42 p.m.
I hope he at least managed to figure out how to turn on the pretty flashing lights and the beautifully loud siren.
notnecessary
Sat, Mar 2, 2013 : 11:24 p.m.
Maybe he was tired of waiting at UM Hospital and decided the quickest way to St. Joe's would be via ambulance so he took things into his own hands.
JRW
Mon, Mar 4, 2013 : 2:49 a.m.
Best comment ever. Thanks!
Frustrated in A2
Mon, Mar 4, 2013 : 1:55 a.m.
Hilarious yet sadly true at the same time Lol!!! Great staff at UMHS but the ER wait can be a doozy at times.
Fat Bill
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 5:55 p.m.
The best comment on this site in a long time. Thanks!
PineyWoodsGuy
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 4:27 a.m.
No doubt about it! The dude was headed for the St. Joe's ER so that he could receive much-needed treatment! Univ Hosp ER employees are dedicated, but they do Not Have the Support of Univ Hosp higher management. Univ Hosp ER is at the level of what I would imagine at the Damascus, Syria hospital ER, if that . . .
brian
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 3:30 a.m.
Wonder if he used the lights and siren.
Homeland Conspiracy
Sat, Mar 2, 2013 : 11:45 p.m.
Smart guy