Woman accused of stealing ambulance, causing multivehicle wreck in Phoenix

PHOENIX — A woman was arrested Tuesday after allegedly stealing an ambulance from a Phoenix hospital before colliding with multiple vehicles, authorities said.

The ambulance was reported stolen from HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center near Central Avenue and Hatcher Road a little before 4 p.m., the Phoenix Police Department said.

A few minutes later, a call came in about a crash involving five vehicles near Cave Creek and Cactus roads, about 3 miles from the hospital.

Officers responding to the collision found Valerie Campbell, 55, in possession of the stolen ambulance.

Campbell was driving north on Cave Creek Road in the stolen vehicle when she caused the wreck, according to police.

She was taken into custody and booked into county jail for vehicle theft and other charges.

One person involved in the collision was taken to the hospital as a precaution, police said.

Sgt. Brian Bower told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Wednesday that Campbell had been taken to the hospital by the fire department for unspecified reasons and took off with the ambulance while she was being checked in.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Balin Overstolz contributed to this report.

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