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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man has been charged after police say he stole an ambulance, hit a pedestrian, and crashed into multiple vehicles Wednesday night.

Memphis Police responded to a call about a stolen Crittenden County ambulance at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital at 7:40 p.m.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Crittenden EMS said a man stole the vehicle from the ambulance bay while crews were inside the hospital. That man was later identified as 33-year-old James Miller.

James Miller (Courtesy: Shelby County Sheriff’s Office)

According to a police report obtained by WREG, Miller, wearing blue hospital scrubs at the time, pulled on the passenger door of the ambulance and appeared “surprised when the door opened.”

Investigators said he hopped in the driver’s seat and sped away.

A witness who didn’t want to be identified told WREG a man part of a construction crew a Poplar Avenue and Goodlett Street started waving his arms to get Miller to stop, but realized he wasn’t stopping.

“He was probably going 50 or 60 miles per hour. He flew through that intersection,” the witness said.

MPD said Miller struck a man at the intersection. As the driver barreled through this construction zone, the victim was lying motionless for, the witness described, what seemed like forever when in reality, it was about half a minute.

“The ambulance hit him on the side and he like spun and fell on the ground,” the witness said. “It was kind of traumatic, you know seeing someone get hit like that.”

He then fled the scene in the stolen ambulance and hit several vehicles in the area of Poplar Avenue and Perkins.

Crittenden EMS said multiple victims were sent to Memphis area hospitals. MPD said the pedestrian that was struck was taken to Regional One in critical condition.

Crittenden EMS said they have no further information at this time but they are sending their prayers to those injured during the incident.

Miller is charged with theft of property $60,000-$250,000, reckless driving, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident involving injury, and no driver’s license.

No court date or bond has been set for Miller.

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