A man allegedly stole an ambulance from Heywood Hospital in Gardner, Massachusetts, on Wednesday, leading police on a chase through multiple towns and hitting at least one other vehicle before he crashed the emergency vehicle into a pole, according to officials.
The Ashburnham Fire Department said EMS were at the hospital's emergency room around 5:40 p.m. to drop off a patient when an unrelated and unknown man tried to get into the ER while assaulting people, including staff.
Ashburnham EMS stepped in and removed the man, who then assaulted EMS staff, escaping and stealing the ambulance, fire department officials said.
Heywood Hospital confirmed there was an "unauthorized use" of one of their emergency vehicles during a situation that started in their Emergency Department around 5:37 p.m., while state police said the theft was reported in the area of Route 68.
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Gardner police confirmed they were called for assistance with the man, later identified as 21-year-old Harrison Barjolo, of Spencer. While officers were en route, they found the ambulance and attempted to pull Barjolo over, but he allegedly refused to stop, which initiated a police pursuit.
Fire officials said the ambulance was pursued from Gardner through Hubbardston, striking other vehicles in the process. Police confirmed Barjolo did strike one vehicle, at which point an officer broke off from the pursuit to render aid.
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Viewer video shows an ambulance being chased by several police cruisers and at one point running into a truck.
A Shell gas station employee told NBC10 Boston he was with a customer when he saw an ambulance drive by with 12 cops behind it. Sean Homer says he also heard a collision at the intersection of West Broadway and Timpany Boulevard.
“All I heard was a bang and it ran into a truck and just kept driving off,” Homer said. “I’m hoping everybody’s OK.”
One driver took cell phone video that shows the truck that was hit.
A boy heading to the movies also witnessed the aftermath.
"There was a police chase and the ambulance hit that truck and then it hit the pole,” Hunter Collier said. “Why would anyone steal an ambulance?”
According to Gardner police, Barjolo continued to flee after striking the truck, at which point other agencies joined in the pursuit. He then reversed directions and ultimately drove the ambulance back to Heywood Hospital where he crashed the emergency vehicle into the pylons outside the ambulance bay.
Barjolo then ran into the emergency department where officers were able to arrest him, police said.
Officers from Gardner, Ashburnham, Hubbardston, and Rutland, as well as Massachusetts State Police troopers, assisted with apprehending him.
No serious injuries were reported in the ordeal, however fire department officials say the ambulance was seriously damaged.
Barjolo is in police custody at this time, and there is no threat to the public, police said. He is being charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for police, operating to endanger, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, assault and battery on an elder, assault and battery on ambulance personnel, and simple assault and battery, as well as other motor vehicle charges.
Police said there could be additional charges as they continue their investigation.
Hospital officials said that the situation is stable, and the Gardner Police Department is investigating.
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