Suspected drunk driver steals ambulance, crashes into hydrant in Santa Fe Springs

WHITTIER, Calif. (KABC) -- A man was taken into custody after stealing an ambulance and crashing it into a fire hydrant in Santa Fe Springs early Wednesday morning.

Authorities received a call about the crash at Telegraph Road and Heritage Park Drive at about 2:30 a.m. The ambulance had hit a pole, a tree and then the fire hydrant.

It took the fire department about 30 minutes to turn off the water.

When officers arrived, no one was in the ambulance, but the suspect was located a short time later walking nearby on Clark Street.

Police say the suspect is a former employee of the ambulance company.

He was taken to a local hospital to be treated for injuries received in the crash.