Highjacker Steals Ambulance – Runs Down Paramedics

A highjacker smashed the windows of a San Francisco Fire Department ambulance Monday morning and then tried to run over two paramedics with the vehicle, the department announced.

The suspect used a wooden “stake from a tree” to smash the vehicle’s windows around 6:55 a.m. at 1717 Harrison Street, the department reported. The suspect then took control of the ambulance and attempted to run over the two paramedics.

The paramedics were “shaken up,” but not injured, according to San Francisco Firefighters 798, a local union.

“This morning two of our members were attacked by someone who used a stake from a tree, smashing windows and trying to assault them,” the union said. “This is another ambulance out of service and two personnel who are rightful, shaken up. This behavior in our City is not acceptable.”

Police said the suspect pulled into the Best Buy parking lot and circled before jumping out and escaping over a fence. The suspect has not been caught or identified at this time but is described as a Latin adult male in his 40s wearing a black jacket and brown pants.

The eight-year-old ambulance sustained thousands in damages, and is now out of service. Photographs show a crack on the windshield and damage to the passenger-side rearview mirror. The driver’s side window was destroyed, and shards of glass cover the driver’s seat.

A burglar also broke into the local union hall last week and caused thousands of dollars in damages. The San Francisco Police Department found and arrested the suspect in that case.

“We have all been patient enough. It’s time for some changes,” the group said.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed called the incident “upsetting” in a statement following the incident.

“This is upsetting when it happens to our residents, visitors and city staff. Our firefighters, paramedics and all first responders work hard every single day – often putting their lives on the line – to ensure the safety of San Franciscans. We take incidents like this seriously and want to thank SFPD for their involvement in these investigations.”