2 In Custody After Van Stolen From Melrose-Wakefield Hospital Crashes In Lynn
LYNN (CBS) – Two people were taken into custody Thursday afternoon after police said the suspects stole a wheelchair transport van from a hospital and then crashed it hours later.
Melrose Police said the 2016 Ford Transit van, known as a "chair car," was reported missing from a parking lot at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital between 6:30 and 6:40 a.m. The van was at the hospital to pick up a patient who was being discharged.
Investigators said there were no patients in the van at the time and no one was hurt. Armstrong Ambulance, which owns the vehicle, said there were no medications or medical equipment on board.
The van, which police said is not a full life support ambulance, was missing for several hours Thursday until a driver saw it on Route 1 in Peabody. State Police said troopers tried to stop the van, but the driver wouldn't pull over. The chase went on into Lynn where the van crashed into a parked car on Regina Street around 1 p.m.
After the crash, pursuing State Police troopers arrested the suspects, identified as 22-year-old Daniel Walsh of Melrose and 23-year-old Nicholas Burke of Peabody.
The suspects allegedly shoplifted hundreds of dollars worth of clothing from Kohl's after the theft of the ambulance.
State Police say Walsh driving the ambulance during the pursuit and Burke was the passenger. They face several charges including receiving a stolen motor vehicle, larceny, and shoplifting.
The suspects are expected to be arraigned Friday in Peabody Court.
