MEMPHIS, Tenn. — An East Memphis pedestrian is fighting for their life Wednesday night after a man stole an ambulance from Le Bonheur, going on a joyride that hit the pedestrian and later crashing into several cars, according to Memphis Police.
MPD said their officers responded to the call for a stolen Crittenden County, Arkansas, ambulance at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital at 7:40 p.m. Wednesday. That’s when they said the suspect, 33-year-old James Miller, had tried to enter the trauma hall. When he could not get in, he stole an ambulance and fled.
Then, at approximately 7:58 p.m., officers responded to a hit-and-run crash where a pedestrian was hit at Poplar Avenue and South Goodlett Street. MPD said Miller hit a man after running a red light. Miller sped off from the area. The man was taken to Regional One Hospital in critical condition.
Finally at 8:10 p.m., officers responded to a four-vehicle crash at Poplar Avenue and Perkins Road Extended. The stolen ambulance hit a Ford Bronco and a Toyota RAV 4. Due to the impact, the Bronco also hit an additional vehicle. A man and a woman were taken to area hospitals in non-critical condition due to injuries from the crash. Officers were able to take Miller into custody.
Miller was charged with theft of property between $60,000 and $250,000, reckless driving, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident involving injury, and not having a driver’s license.