Man Crashes Stolen Ambulance During Police Chase in Upstate New York

New York State Police are investigating a crash after a 25-year-old man allegedly stole an occupied ambulance leading police on a wild chase through multiple upstate New York areas.

It all started on Saturday at approximately 10:17 p.m. when EMTs from the Schoharie EMS unit responded to Main Street in the village of Cobleskill, New York to assist a woman reportedly suffering from a diabetic emergency according to the New York State Police (NYSP).

Man Steals Occupied Upstate New York Ambulance

Once first responders loaded the female patient into the ambulance police said that 25-year-old Adam Cole of Schenectady, New York allegedly told the two EMS personnel that there was another medical emergency nearby. As the two EMS personnel got out of the ambulance to investigate police say that's when Cole got into the driver’s seat and drove off.

Stolen Ambulance Won't Stop for Police

A short time after the ambulance was reported stolen a Schoharie County Sheriff’s Deputy spotted it traveling east on Interstate 88 and attempted to make a traffic stop, but Cole failed to pull over. As the chase continued it was believed that the female patient from the original medical call was still inside the ambulance leading to more NYSP patrols to respond and join the pursuit to try and get the driver to stop.

The pursuit continued onto the NYS Thruway, I-890, and then entered the city of Schenectady, NY.

Stolen Ambulance Crashes Into Another Vehicle

As Cole drove the ambulance into Schenectady he began traveling on Eastern Avenue when he drove into the Brandywine Ave. intersection and crashed into a 1988 Nissan 300Z, which was being operated by 24-year-old Jesus Espinal Jr. of Utica, NY. Espinal suffered serious injuries in the crash and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment where he was listed in critical condition.

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Cole was the only person in the ambulance at the time of the crash and was not seriously injured. NYSP did take him into custody and multiple charges are currently pending. It was later learned that he also had an active arrest warrant from the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office for Grand Larceny 3rd degree.

What Happened to the Ambulance Patient?

During the NYSP investigation, it was determined that shortly after taking the ambulance, Cole pulled over on Route 7 in Cobleskill at a Speedway gas station and the female medical patient got out. According to police, she was transported to a nearby hospital in a private vehicle where she was treated and released.