By EMS1 Staff
DANVILLE, Pa. — A man stole an ambulance with a crew inside, drove it to a pharmacy to steal pills and crashed into a pole, according to police.
WTVR reported that the Americus Hose Company Ambulance Service crews had just dropped a patient off at an emergency room when Adam Zaharick, a hospital patient, hijacked the ambulance and drove away.
“They realized what was going on and jumped out of the ambulance for their own safety,” Americus Hose Company employee Bob Hare said.
Zaharick said that after he was released from the hospital, he wanted to “score some oxy,” according to police. He added that he wanted to put on a show by stealing the ambulance.
Police said Zaharick first crashed into a truck on the hospital campus, and then drove to a CVS pharmacy where he crashed into a pole.
“I don’t know what all kind of damage he’s done, but the ambulance is pretty banged up,” Hare said.
After the crash, Zaharick ran into the pharmacy and jumped over the counter to try and steal pills.
An off-duty federal corrections officer was in the store and tackled Zaharick to the ground until police arrived. He was arrested and faces charges of robbery of a motor vehicle, robbery and burglary.