Tampa man steals fire engine before crashing into SUV, police say

Officials say 59-year-old Warren Scudder stole the fire engine just before 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, while firefighters were inside St. Joseph’s Hospital.

TAMPA, Fla. — A man is behind bars after Tampa police said he stole a fire engine outside a hospital before causing a crash.

Officials said 59-year-old Warren Scudder stole the fire engine just before 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, while firefighters were inside St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Scudder drove off before eventually crashing into a gray Lexus SUV on Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard and MacDill Avenue.

The Lexus driver, a man, was evaluated by hospital staff after he told authorities he was feeling hip pain from the crash.

TPD was able to find the stolen vehicle and block its path minutes later on Poplar Avenue.

Scudder was taken into custody without further incident and charged with grand theft auto and hit-and-run. Additional charges may be pending.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing.