SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – An ambulance was stolen from a Spartanburg County hospital Thursday afternoon and chased into Union County.
The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office said the Spartanburg EMS ambulance was stolen by a patient at Spartanburg Medical Center – Mary Black Campus around 12:20 p.m.
According to the incident report, the ambulance was parked outside of the emergency room entrance in the ambulance bay with the keys inside and the engine running while the EMTs entered the hospital momentarily.
When one of the EMTs walked outside she heard the ambulance being put into gear and start moving, deputies said. The EMT told deputies she chased the ambulance down the ramp and attempted to open the door but it was locked.
The EMT was able to identify the patient who stole the vehicle because she transported him to the medical center earlier that morning.
The ambulance was chased through parts of Spartanburg where it struck a Spartanburg Police patrol vehicle at the corner of East St. John Street and South Pine Street.
The chase continued down U.S. 176 into Union.
Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright said the ambulance was attempting to hit Union County deputies during the chase.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect crashed a Union County deputy’s vehicle.
The chase eventually came to an end at a former school on Sims Drive where the suspect was taken into custody.
Union County officials said the suspect, identified as 34-year-old Terrance Trent Darby, will face charges in both Union County and Spartanburg County.
No injuries were reported.
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System said the damaged ambulance was recovered but directed all further questions to law enforcement.
Darby is currently being held in the Union County jail. He was charged with the following:
- Reckless driving
- Failure to stop for blue light
- Disregarding a traffic control device
- Endangerment of a highway worker
- Attempted murder
