February 29, 2020

Locals react to wild stolen ambulance chase after shirtless Philly driver

The thief was shot by police and wearing only boxer shorts but continued to drive for almost two hours

By Allie Miller
PhillyVoice Staff

Thom Carroll/for PhillyVoice

A 90-minute police chase after a stolen ambulance throughout Northeast Philadelphia captured viewers Friday night. The fastest the man drove was 25 miles an hour, and the total distance traveled was under 3 miles.

Videos of an hour-long police chase involving a shirtless Philadelphia man who stole an ambulance Friday night sparked a big reaction online from locals and nation-wide.

Authorities arrived at the Roosevelt Inn in Northeast Philadelphia around 9:30 p.m. responding to a domestic disturbance that required medical attention, reported ABC News. The man involved in the disturbance became aggressive with the police, jumped in one of the medic units that arrived at the motel, and started driving.

The 40-year-old man, dressed in nothing but a pair of boxer shorts, began driving straight towards one of the cops, who opened fire on the ambulance. Four shots were fired and the thief was struck in the leg. The cop was partially hit by the vehicle. Both parties' injuries were not life-threatening, and the ambulance thief continued to drive.

A 90-minute police chase throughout Northeast Philadelphia then ensued. CBS Philly reported that the fastest the man drove was 25 miles an hour, and the total distance traveled was under 3 miles.

The chase ended around 10:40 pm when the police finally stopped the ambulance and took the suspect into custody where he was first treated for his gunshot wounds. No civilians appear to have been hurt in the chase by this time. A tow truck that came within the ambulance's path belonged to police.

Viral videos of the incident then circulated online, reactions came from the Philly area and across the country.

CAUGHT IN THE AMBULANCE CHASE: We were waiting at a red light at Rhawn and the Boulevard when the stolen ambulance came right behind us
@6abc pic.twitter.com/YJCONsagd7
— Maggie Kent (@MaggieKent6abc) February 29, 2020

WATCH LIVE: A stolen ambulance is still leading dozens of cop cars on a dangerous chase through Northeast Philadelphia neighborhoods after nearly an hour of driving. https://t.co/pYx37DMunI pic.twitter.com/Us7P5MVnAY
— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) February 29, 2020

The great ambulance chase 2020 pic.twitter.com/wx1olHfsKC
— Happy birthday Luka 🎂 🎈☺ (@mffl13) February 29, 2020

AMBULANCE CHASE LATEST: @PhillyPolice just left the Roosevelt Inn. This is where it all started—police say a medic was called to this location at 9:20 PM. They say a man in only boxer shorts became combative & jumped in the ambulance @FOX29philly https://t.co/tK3Kgc3F6k… pic.twitter.com/UGuLlahHcX
— Kelly Rule (@KellyRuleTV) February 29, 2020

I watched a police chase in Philly last night where the dude stole an ambulance. This chase went on for quite a while and the dude had some serious driving skills....getting out of several roadblocks and out running a tow truck.

Never change Philadelphia.
— 👁Mike Santorro👁 (@MikeSantorro) February 29, 2020

I am sitting here watching a police chase of a stolen ambulance in Philly but he sure isn’t driving it like it was stolen! He was driving sooo slow and yet they still couldn’t stop him! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/KpALIi16VM
— Kerry (@KerryLynS130) February 29, 2020

me watching TV last night as the police chase a person in a stolen ambulance near my neighborhood and helicopters fly overhead pic.twitter.com/VakZ5MJe5o
— basia padlo (@savageglitter) February 29, 2020

How did my friday night go??? I watched an HOUR ambulance chase on the news and let me tell you something... it was so ENTERTAINING lmao some guy STOLE an ambulance and probably was the greatest driver ever bro
— Olivia♡Saw Queen (@dancingqueenrog) February 29, 2020

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