Hospital patient steals ambulance with personnel inside, crashes after police chase

ATLANTA (WANF/Gray News) - A patient at a Georgia hospital stole an ambulance and led police on a chase before crashing into a light pole.

The Clayton County Sheriff’s Office says the suspect, identified as Ladarius Williams, stole a private Amerimed ambulance from Piedmont Henry Hospital in Stockbridge, from which he had just been discharged after being treated.

Police say Williams drove away with ambulance personnel still in the back of the vehicle.

“Fearing for their lives, the victims jumped from the back of the moving ambulance,” the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office said Williams drove from Henry County into Clayton County, “where he had no regard for human life or property, using an ambulance as a wrecking ball, hitting multiple police cars, and causing property damage.”

Both the Clayton County Police Department and Georgia State Patrol worked to stop the suspect, which led to a chase and the suspect crashing into a light pole on Tara Boulevard near Dixon Road.

Authorities took out the ambulance’s tires with spike strips and stop sticks, but Williams continued driving.

According to the sheriff’s office law enforcement then used a PIT maneuver to stop the ambulance.

The sheriff’s office said Williams ran away and was stunned with a Taser before being taken into custody. He is charged with aggravated assault on law enforcement, felony fleeing, obstruction, theft by taking and hit and run, according to the Georgia State Patrol.

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