ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now) — The George Washington Parkway was backed up for at least two miles on Saturday due to a multi-vehicle crash and subsequent car chase.
At about 3:40 p.m., Virginia State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash in the eastbound lanes of I-66. The truck that caused the crash was reportedly stolen from Falls Church, Va.
The driver was identified as Darell T. Caldwell, 30, of Brandywine, Md. – he fled the scene of the crash. The other driver involved in the crash was transported to a hospital for minor injuries.
VSP responded to a multi-vehicle crash at 3:41 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-395 in Arlington County. The crash was also caused by Caldwell in the stolen truck. A total of five people were transported to a nearby hospital while Caldwell fled the scene on foot.
State Police received a report minutes later about a crash on the George Washington Parkway, again involving Caldwell. He was driving a truck the wrong way when it struck another vehicle.
An Arlington County Fire Department ambulance responding to the parkway stopped and medics treated injured drivers. While tending to a driver, Caldwell ran up to the ambulance and drove off in it.
A VSP trooper was alerted of the stolen ambulance and caught up with Caldwell who refused to stop. At one point, the ambulance stopped in the road and, as the officer was getting out of his patrol car, Caldwell reversed the ambulance and hit the state police vehicle before driving off.
The pursuit continued with both VSP and Arlington County Police.
The stolen ambulance entered Washington, D.C. where it hit a parked vehicle head-on at 14th St. NW and D St. NW. The parked car had a person in it who had minor injuries.
Officers took Caldwell into custody – he was transported to a hospital for a medical evaluation.
In all, there were 13 hit-and-run crashes committed by the stolen ambulance. Police have not received reports of serious injuries from the crashes.
Anyone who was struck by the ambulance during the pursuit is asked to contact the Virginia State Police at 703-803-0026.
Caldwell has been charged by federal and local law enforcement, but state police charges are still pending.
