Theft of hospital wheelchair van ends in crash
The van was stolen around 6:30 a.m. when it arrived to pick up a patient who was being discharged.
Two suspects were taken into custody Thursday after reportedly stealing a wheelchair transportation van from MelroseWakefield Hospital.
State police said officers tried to pull the van over in Peabody, but its drivers refused to stop and later crashed into a parked car in Lynn.
Though state police called the van an ambulance in a tweet, the Melrose Police Department said it was a non-emergency transport vehicle.
UPDATE – Two suspects have been transported to State Police-Danvers to be booked. We will update when more information is available and appropriate for release. https://t.co/ToCjdJYRWP
— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) September 19, 2019
The van was stolen from the hospital around 6:30 a.m. when it arrived to pick up a patient who was being discharged, Melrose police said in a release.
The Armstrong Ambulance 2016 Ford Transit Van was not carrying any medical equipment or medication at the time of its disappearance. No patients were aboard the “chair car” when it was stolen, police said.
Massachusetts State Police tweeted that the suspects were transported to the Danvers barracks for booking Thursday afternoon.
