Man steals ambulance to 'drive himself to the hospital'

A man stole an ambulance that was on an emergency call in Tampa on Thursday night, intent on driving himself to the hospital, Tampa police said.

According to a police report, Transcare Ambulance personnel were responding to a medical call at 312 W. Genesee St. at 10:27 p.m. They were aiding a patient in the house when they heard the ambulance engine turn over.

As they looked outside, they saw the ambulance take off, with the emergency lights flashing.

The vehicle was tracked by GPS as it traveled northbound to North Florida Avenue at Chelsea Street, then it traveled south on North Highland Street.

Police found the ambulance, with the emergency lights still on, as it traveled south on North Tampa Street. Officers were able to stop the ambulance at Tampa and East 26th Avenue.

Hubert Lee, 39, whose address is listed as "at large," was arrested without incident at 10:32 p.m. and there was no damage to the ambulance, police said. The whole incident was over in five minutes.

According to police, Lee told them, "I got beat up by four guys, I saw the ambulance and I was going to drive myself to the hospital."

Lee did have a puncture wound to his head and he was transported to Tampa General Hospital for treatment.