A Wisconsin ambulance call turned into a rolling nightmare Tuesday night when police say a naked man jumped into the driver’s seat of an active emergency vehicle, with a seriously ill patient already inside, and led officers on a high-speed chase.
A Patient Mid-Transport Becomes a Hostage in Her Own Ambulance
According to the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department, paramedics were loading a patient into the back of the ambulance when 37-year-old Benjamin L. Feltz allegedly climbed into the cab and drove off. The patient wasn’t stable to begin with; authorities say she was suffering from kidney disease and was en route for medical care when the ambulance suddenly became a getaway vehicle instead.
A 90-MPH Chase With a Terrified Patient in the Back
Police say the chase stretched more than 18 miles over roughly 40 minutes, with the ambulance reaching speeds above 90 mph. At one point, the vehicle reportedly veered onto a dirt road near a landfill before reentering Highway 73, where it continued swerving through traffic. Investigators say the patient shouted that she was “dying from kidney disease” in a desperate attempt to get the driver to stop.
Tire Deflation, a Cornfield, and an Arrest
Officers eventually tried to end the pursuit using a tire deflation device. After one tire was compromised, police say Feltz kept driving before eventually steering the ambulance off-road into a muddy cornfield, where it finally became stuck. Body camera footage shows the suspect exiting the ambulance completely naked as officers approached with weapons drawn.
Police allege Feltz appeared intoxicated and told officers he had consumed part of a bottle of household chemical cleaner and had marijuana in his system. Court records show he has prior Operating While Intoxicated convictions and did not have a valid driver’s license at the time of the incident.
Charges Filed, Patient Transferred to Care
Feltz now faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including first-degree reckless endangering safety, and is being held on a $100,000 bond, according to court filings. As with any pending case, these charges remain allegations that have not yet been proven in court. The patient was ultimately transferred to another ambulance and received medical care, though authorities haven’t released further details about her condition.
What started as a routine medical transport turned into a 90-mph emergency involving a hijacked ambulance, a critically ill patient, and a suspect accused of turning a lifesaving vehicle into a high-speed threat. Police say the investigation remains ongoing.