Hospital patient steals ambulance, leads police on chase throughout Houston

HOUSTON - A Texas Medical Center hospital patient hopped in an ambulance and led police on a 30-minute chase throughout the city of Houston late Wednesday night.

Police say the called dropped around 11:43 p.m. reporting a stolen ambulance at Memorial Hermann Hospital.

A patient who was discharged was noticed peering into vehicles before he got into an ambulance, shut the door and took off.

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HPD units picked up on the chase shortly after on 610 northbound near Beechnut. The suspect is reported reaching high rates of speed as he drove through 610, 290, and FM 529 westbound.

Harris County deputies then assisted HPD units in pursuing the suspect.

During the chase, a spike strip was put out on the road to try to stop the ambulance, and some unaware patrol units suffered blown out tires from the spikes.

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The suspect hit the center median in the 15600 block of Glen Chase Road, which disabled the vehicle.

Deputies then smashed the ambulance window and took the suspect out of the vehicle and into custody.

The District Attorney will determine the charges, which likely include evading charges and more.