A 55-YEAR-OLD mentally challenged man who drove away with Fire Service ambulance from the compound of Sangre Grande District Hospital at Ojoe Road, Sangre Grande, is to be taken before a Sangre Grande magistrate today.
Police reported at about 11.30 am the mentally challenged man was on the compound of Sangre Grande District Hospital in the vicinity of the Accident and Emergency Section of the hospital. A Fire Service ambulance pulled up at the Accident and Emergency Section. The driver left the ignition on, and went inside the hospital. The mentally challenged man jumped into the driver’s seat and drove off with the ambulance onto Ojoe Road.
When the driver of the Fire Service ambulance came out of the hospital the ambulance was no where to be found. The bewildered driver made enquiries of the ambulance and was told that “the mad man” driver had the siren on with flashing lights and was making his way out of Sangre Grande.
Security officers posted at the Sangre Grande Hospital assisted the driver by calling the Sangre Grande police and reported the disappearance of the Fire Service ambulance from the Sangre Grande Hospital compound.
The mentally challenged man sped along the Eastern Main Road - having all vehicles pulling aside as he passed with siren blaring and flashing lights.
An All-Points bulletin was sent and police officers in vehicles were placed on alert for the ambulance, which was intercepted by police officers from Sangre Grande Task Force and Manzanilla Police, at the Manzanilla gas station, where the mentally challenge man stopped to fill gas in the ambulance.
As the man alighted from the ambulance he was grabbed by police officers. Police said he was dressed in torn clothing and had a foul smell. He was handcuffed after a short scuffle.
Motorists who saw the commotion stopped to see what was happening. Some said “vagrant driving ambulance now”, while others inquired if he had caused any accidents, but no accidents were reported during the one-hour drama.
The mentally challenged man was taken to Sangre Grande Police station where he was questioned. He told police he took the Fire Service ambulance and drove it to Manzanilla in a bid to save his friend whose house was on fire. Cpl Garcia asked him for his drivers’ permit and certificate of insurance, which he could not produce as he looked in his worn out pants’ pocket as if he was looking for the documents.
Cpl Garcia cautioned him and laid three charges - driving a government vehicle without permission, driving a vehicle without driver’s permit and certificate of insurance.
The man was taken to the Sangre Grande Hospital where doctors reported to police that he was mentally ill.
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