By Ruth Showalter
A University of Virginia Medical Center ER patient was arrested on Interstate 64 early Friday morning after allegedly stealing an ambulance.
UVa Public Information Officer Melissa Fielding says 26-year-old Jay Tilden Gatliff, a resident of Woodstock, walked out of the hospital just before 5am and climbed into a Greene County Rescue Squad ambulance parked outside the ER. Because the keys were in the ignition and the engine running, Gatliff was able to speed off.
UVa police were notified of the incident at 5:03am and Virginia State Police and other surrounding law enforcement officers a few minutes later. Fielding says police caught up to the ambulance around 5:20am on I-64 westbound at mile marker 93 in Augusta County, approximately 23 minutes after allegedly taking the ambulance.
"He exited the emergency department and saw an opportunity and was motivated to get home. I’ve been here for 18 years and never have I seen an ambulance stolen from the emergency department," Fielding said.
Gatliff was arrested without incident and charged with grand larceny. He is being held at the Albemarle/Charlottesville Regional Jail. Police are still trying to determine what his motive may have been.
