Mental Patient Being Treated By Paramedics Takes Off In Fire Department Ambulance

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com)  —  Authorities said an unidentified patient, being treated by paramedics, commandeered a Los Angeles Fire Department ambulance Sunday evening before crashing it.

LAPD is investigating.

The incident started at Third and Alameda, reported KCAL9's Cristy Fajardo.

She said the entire story was a bit of a head scratcher and had police laughing at what happened.

Police said the man crashed the ambulance into a minivan at Union and Beverly.

Two people in the minivan suffered minor injuries.

The suspect is in custody, according to Fajardo.

The "patient/suspect" was seen on a stretcher being taken from the scene.

Authorities told Fajardo the man was "screaming and making no sense" as he was being led away.

The man, described as a mental patient got agitated, apparently ripped out his IV's and then jumped into the front of the ambulance and drove off.

Paramedics were able to get out of the ambulance before the man drove off.

The patient/suspect faces a possible carjacking charge.

Fajardo asked the battalion chief what his thoughts were about the incident and he replied, "Only in LA."