Police use spike strips to stop stolen S.C. ambulance

A patient at Novant Health Hilton Head Medical Center allegedly drove off in a MedTrust ambulance, leading to a brief pursuit, hit-and-run crash and her return to the hospital

December 04, 2025 09:24 AM

By Evan McKenna
The Island Packet

HILTON HEAD, S.C. — A patient at Novant Health Hilton Head Medical Center stole a private ambulance from outside the emergency room Tuesday evening before law enforcement stopped the vehicle shortly after, according to police.

The theft occurred around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and the woman was detained about 10 minutes later. She was returned to the hospital. It was not immediately clear if she would be criminally charged.

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Police used spike strips to stop the stolen MedTrust vehicle about 3 miles away near Indian Pipe Lane, which branches off Squire Pope Road near its junction with U.S. 278 ( William Hilton Parkway ).

Before then, the ambulance was involved in a hit-and-run accident with another vehicle, Lt. Daniel Allen of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said. The ambulance’s lights and sirens were on during the theft, according to dispatch audio.

Beaufort County deputies were handling the investigation of the theft, while the South Carolina Highway Patrol was assigned to look into the hit-and-run collision.

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