Ambulance stolen out of Tulare County crashes on Rosedale Hwy near Hwy 99 in Bakersfield

An ambulance stolen out of Tulare County and driven at high-speeds crashed into a tree in the area of Highway 99 and Rosedale Highway in Bakersfield Wednesday afternoon.

The LifeStar ambulance was taken by an unidentified person at a hospital in Tulare at around 3 p.m. A LifeStar spokesperson said a paramedic driver was in the passenger seat working on a computer when someone jumped into the driver’s seat and drove off. The LifeStar paramedic was able to get out of the ambulance. No one was hurt, LifeStar Ambulance said.

The ambulance went southbound on Highway 99. The driver eventually exited at Rosedale Highway and crashed into a tree. The driver was taken into custody in Bakersfield and turned over to Tulare County authorities. Kern County law enforcement was following the stolen ambulance, the California Highway Patrol in Bakersfield said its officers did not pursue the ambulance because of the reckless driving by the driver.

According to the LifeStar Ambulance website, the ambulance provider serves Tulare, Tipton, Pixley and Earlimart.

KGET-TV NBC/CW+ 17 Bakersfield