SAN ANTONIO – UPDATE 7:25 p.m.: Police have identified the man accused of stealing an emergency medical services unit, leading police on a chase and crashing into several vehicles as 33-year-old Alfred Trevino.
Trevino is charged with theft of vehicle. criminal mischief and failure to stop and render aid. Police say more charges could be pending.
Trevino is being treated at a local hospital and is under police supervision, officials said.
(Previously)
A man who was in apparent need of medical assistance stole an emergency medical services unit, led police on a chase, crashed into four cars on a busy freeway interchange, ditched the unit and made a run for it until police caught up and arrested him, said Officer Doug Greene, a San Antonio police spokesman.
Greene said the chain of events began at 3:30 p.m., when an EMS unit was dispatched to 3300 block of Goliad Road for a medical emergency.
When paramedics arrived, they found a man in his mid- to late 20s who appeared to be under the influence of a narcotic and was uncooperative, Greene said.
Moments later, the man suddenly jumped inside the EMS unit and took off, Greene said.
"You see that in the movies. 'Oh, they took off in an ambulance. Oh, they took off in a police cruiser.' You never think you're going to actually witness that or the aftermath of it," said Diana Gallego, a witness.
The man was on Interstate 37 and Military Drive when he cut off a Park Police vehicle, Greene said. The officer alerted dispatchers that he was following the vehicle.
When the man approached Loop 410 and Interstate 10, he suddenly cut across traffic and struck four vehicles, including one that rolled over, Greene said.
The men got out of the EMS unit and ran until officers caught up with him after a brief struggle, Greene said.
"It was a horrible time of the day for it to happen, with all of the traffic," Greene said.
No one was seriously injured, but the driver in the rolled vehicle was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Greene said.
"We're thankful that no one was seriously injured, which could have been the case," Greene said.
Traffic was backed up for miles and motorists were advised to avoid the area because it will be closed until 6 or 6:30 p.m., Greene said.
The man faces a laundry list of charges, Greene said.