Police say man struck back of emergency vehicle then left scene — with ambulance in pursuit
By John M. Hoober III
Lancaster New Era
Copyright 2008 Lancaster Newspapers, Inc.
LANCASTER, Pa. — An ambulance driver wasn’t about to see the motorist who hit his emergency vehicle early this morning get away.
So, the Lancaster Emergency Medical Services Associates ambulance became an instant pursuit vehicle, helping police officers apprehend the fleeing driver, who now faces drunken-driving and hit-and-run charges, police said.
Michael Edward McBride, 23, of 710 N. Lime St., Apt. 1, struck the back of the ambulance just after 2 a.m. today on North Queen Street, near James Street, Officer Thomas Ginder said.
The ambulance contained no patients. The crew had dropped off a patient and was heading back to its headquarters at Lancaster Regional Medical Center, 250 College Ave.
McBride took off after the crash, which damaged the back bumper of the ambulance, Ginder said.
McBride headed west on James Street. The ambulance, driven by Rafael Uchle, started following McBride’s 1998 Buick Century, but not at an excessive speed, Ginder said.
The ambulance kept up with the car the best it could, and the crew informed police of its location.
McBride turned around at College Avenue and headed back east toward center city. Security cameras picked up the fleeing car as it neared North Queen Street.
Ginder said he and Officers Matthew Caple and Erik Pannone spotted the car at West James and North Water streets and stopped the driver at North Water and West Lemon streets.
McBride faces charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants, hit and run, following too closely, and driving under suspension, Ginder said.
As for the ambulance driver who put police on the trail, Ginder said:
“He did a pretty good job. An ambulance is not exactly a pursuit vehicle.’'