A 23-year-old man was killed in near San Diego, California, over the weekend after jumping from a moving ambulance and sprinting across a major highway before being hit by an SUV.
via NYDN:
The patient apparently unbuckled himself from a stretcher around 6:30 p.m. Saturday and managed to open the ambulance’s rear door as the vehicle traveled south on Interstate 5 in Encinitas, about 25 miles north of San Diego, according to California Highway Patrol.
He then jumped over the center divider and was struck by a BMW while running across the northbound lanes, CHP Officer Mark Latulippe told news outlets.
The man’s identity was not released, but officials said he may have been suffering from mental health issues. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two medical responders were in the back of the ambulance when the incident took place, according to local station KSWB-TV. The vehicle was reportedly traveling at about 50 mph when the patient jumped out of it.
The driver of the BMW was taken to the hospital for treatment. The 40-year-old woman did not appear to suffer serious injuries as she called 911 to report hitting a pedestrian.
So sad.
