Garland police arrested a woman on Mother’s Day after a vehicle chase involving a Wilmer Fire Department ambulance stolen from Dallas’ Baylor hospital.
Around 4:50 p.m. Sunday, police responded to reports of an ambulance hitting a gas pipe and a fence outside a home near Gatewood Park.
Officers tried to stop the ambulance and turned on their sirens. But then Kimberly Fouty, 34, of Austin turned on the stolen ambulance’s sirens, “driving erratically” through the neighborhood and across residents’ lawns, police said. No one was injured, and no parked cars were damaged.
Garland police chased Fouty in the stolen ambulance for more than five miles, including across the Rowlett Road bridge over Lake Ray Hubbard.
A spokesperson said officers believe Fouty was under the influence of narcotics but did not provide additional details.
Currently held in the Garland Detention Center, Fouty is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, driving while intoxicated, evading arrest and detention and failure to stop and leave ID.
The Wilmer Fire Department had to tow the ambulance from the Rowlett crash site — 30 miles away from the department headquarters. It’s unclear if the damage to the ambulance is reparable, but it was out of service yesterday, a Garland police spokesperson said.
Fouty’s bond has not been set.