A man is in custody after he led law enforcement on a multi-county chase in a stolen ambulance.
The incident started at 7:36 a.m. Friday morning, when Virginia State Police received a call for a single-vehicle crash on Boxwood Road in Henry County.
A trooper was on the way to the scene when the Henry County Sheriff's Office was called to assist.
When the deputy arrived at the scene, the driver ran and a short foot pursuit ensued.
Several minutes later, the suspect stole a white Dodge pickup truck from Morningside Drive, just up from the crash scene.
Law enforcement began to look for that vehicle in the Bassett area and they were able to locate it near Brookshire Apartments.
The Henry County Sheriff's Office made contact with the driver who fled on foot.
A short foot pursuit ensued and deputies were able to detain him.
State police say it was obvious the suspect needed some medical attention so they contacted Henry County Public Safety.
After initial treatment at the scene, paramedics were in the process of transporting the suspect, who was unconscious, to Sovah Health in Martinsville.
According to the sheriff's office, he was administered two doses of Naloxone.
A short time later, the suspect woke up and became combative with the EMT in the back of the ambulance.
The driver pulled over and went back to check on the EMT in the back.
Police say the suspect escaped from the ambulance, ran around and got in the driver's seat.
The paramedics were able to get out of the ambulance before the suspect led the sheriff's office and state police on a pursuit, which went on for approximately 52 minutes with speeds of up to 120 miles per hour.
The stolen ambulance traveled mostly in the Bassett area before entering Patrick County.
The Patrick County Sheriff’s Office joined the chase and the ambulance struck two of their patrol vehicles.
Spike strips were used to help immobilize the vehicle, which became stuck in mud in a field along County Line Road in Patrick County.
The suspect was identified as Derrick Martin.
Martin exited the vehicle and ran.
A Patrick County K9 found him in a wooded area and he was taken into custody.
Martin was transported to the hospital, but charges are pending.
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