A man stole an ambulance from Medical City Dallas Hospital early Thursday, leading police on a chase along Interstate 45 that ended in a crash, authorities said.
The suspect, whose identity has not been released, was injured and airlifted to a hospital, where he is expected to recover.
Dallas police responded to a report of a stolen emergency vehicle around 1:15 a.m. at the hospital, located at 7777 Forest Lane, according to a press release.
An Acadian Ambulance was stolen while a medic was working in the back. The medic was thrown from an open door as the suspect drove off, sustaining minor injuries, police said.
An off-duty Dallas officer working security at the hospital was alerted to the theft.
Police tracked the ambulance as it traveled southbound on I-45 into Ellis County. Ferris police attempted a traffic stop, but the suspect fled, prompting a brief pursuit. Near Pace Road south of Ferris, about 20 miles south of downtown Dallas, the ambulance crashed through a guardrail, rolled down a steep embankment, and landed in a creek bed in Palmer, Texas.
Palmer firefighters extricated the trapped suspect, who was airlifted to a Dallas hospital in unknown condition, according to Ellis County officials. Authorities said the suspect faces multiple charges, including theft of the ambulance and evading arrest, though no charges have been formally filed.
Officials have not disclosed why the suspect was at the hospital or provided further details about his identity. The investigation is ongoing.