Impatient Patient Steals Ambulance, Wrecks It in Crash
A patient who apparently grew tired of waiting for emergency room treatment and stole an ambulance was freed on bail Friday.
Patricia Ridell, 22, was charged with one felony count of taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent and two misdemeanor counts of reckless driving and disorderly conduct. She was ordered to return for another hearing on Oct. 1.
Police said Ridell was waiting for treatment Thursday at Westerly Hospital after a car accident when she apparently grew tired of waiting, leaped off a stretcher and jumped into a new $25,000 ambulance. She later slammed into a tree, and police said the ambulance was demolished.
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