Ambulance Stolen from Heywood Hospital – Returned Totaled
Just before 6pm on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, an Ashburnham Rescue Ambulance was stolen from the grounds of Heywood Hospital. A police pursuit ensued with units chasing the ambulance towards Hubbardston. The ambulance turned around near Rietta and headed back towards Gardner. During the incident, the perpetrator caused damage via accidents with multiple motor vehicles. At approximately 6:07pm, the ambulance returned to Heywood Hospital, but was in totaled condition and was towed away. The suspect was reportedly secured in the ER.
Heywood Hospital did release a short statement, “At 5:37 pm, an incident occurred in the Heywood Hospital Emergency Department involving the unauthorized use of an emergency vehicle. The situation is stable and under investigation.”
The Gardner Police Department Issued a Press Release regarding the incident. VIEW COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE, CLICK HERE. In the Press Release, it is confirmed that the driver was a 21 year old male of Spencer, Massachusetts who failed to stop for police trying to pull him over after he accessed an ambulance and drove away with it. In the course of the pursuit, another vehicle was struck which required aid from the police. The driver went back to Heywood Hospital and crashed the ambulance into the pylons outside the ambulance bay. He is in police custody with a number of charges listed in the Press Release. The Town of Ashburnham issued a separate Press Release stating that the suspect “assaulted EMS staff, escaped from them, entered the Ambulance, and stole it. A pursuit began immediately traveling through Gardner and Hubbardston, striking other vehicles in the process.” VIEW COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE, CLICK HERE.