15 Year Old Suspect Jumps from Florida Ambulance

[Guest alsfirefighter]

15-Year-Old Suspect Jumps from Florida Ambulance

A 15-year-old girl jumped from a moving ambulance, Tuesday afternoon, on busy Highway 192 in Osceola County. Deputies had just arrested the girl for failing to show up in court on misdemeanor charges, when she complained of a medical problem.

The girl was on the way to the hospital, when she jumped out of the ambulance at about 40 miles per hour at 192 and Celebration Avenue. At the time, she was handcuffed behind her back and was strapped to the stretcher in three separate places.

The Emergency Medical Services chief in Osceola County said the paramedic had turned away from the 15-year-old girl as he was grabbing the radio to call the hospital about her condition, when she jumped.

The girl landed on busy Highway 192. One of the deputies who had picked her up was following the ambulance.

"They were on their way to Celebration Hospital. The ambulance was going about 40 mph and that's when he saw her jump out the back of the ambulance," said Twis Lizasuain, Osceola County Sheriff's Department.

The paramedic and the deputy ran to her to help her. They called for the helicopter. She apparently didn't want to go to the hospital in the first place and didn't want to stay in custody, but she was flown to Orlando Regional Medical Center's trauma unit and is now facing the possibility of more charges for escape.

The girl suffered only non-life threatening cuts in the fall. Investigators found a religious bracelet a few feet from where she fell. They don't know whether it's hers or whether it helped her, but they collected it as evidence.

The EMS chief is concerned about how the girl got off the stretcher. The straps are supposed to protect the patient and the paramedics. He believes they're industry standard straps. They're going to investigate and figure out whether they need to make any changes.

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Hmmm. Handcuffed behind her back, gets out of 2 possibly 3 stretcher straps and hits a door hard enough to "jump" out of a moving ambulance. I don't know about you but something doesn't completely add up to me. Either way, one point is you must pay special attention to all patients, particulary EDP and/or when in custody of PD and where was the officer on board the ambulance if there even was one? One positive point is that she was not put in the prone position on the stretcher. That is a no no when someone is handcuffed.

[Remember585 815]

Luckily I'm engaged, the handcuffs and bed straps were one of the better tactics I had with my dates.....

Do any EMS units lock their crew area doors during transport? I know newer rigs have power locks that can be locked from the driver's seat, but in all my years I don't ever remember doing it. This case once again proves there is no such thing as a routine call.

[Capejake72 8]

from the article i read on this last night, the cop/deputy was following in his own cruiser, and almost hit the subject when she bailed out of the ambulance. ive never seen a cop actualy ride in the ambulance with someone who's PC'ed, sometimes they dont even escort to the hospital (how do you transfer custody then?)

[tbendick 27]

In the city NYPD is in charge of EDP's, it's a non-emergency no lights no sirens call for FDNY. When EMS transports PD always rides in the back. However in Westchester I have never had PD ride in the back, I guess it's because of the One man cars or something.

I can remember picking up an EDP we found on 1st Av near Bellevue Hosp only to get to CPEP and tell us that the patient had just been transfered by a Private Ambulance. Once the Ambulance hit 1st Av the patient had bailed out. They were driving around looking when we got the call. Was pretty funny, low speed so the EDP hit the ground running.

[Guest]

Very "interesting situation" indeed. It sounds like she may have been cuffed with her hands in front of her rather than behind, thats the only way i can see her having the ability to unbuckle and open the back door that quickly. Either way, there should have been an officer in the back w/ the Medic, no question about it.

[OoO 24]

However in Westchester  I have never had PD ride in the back

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In Ardsley, the police always ride in back if the patient is in custody.

[helicopper 1,050]

Very "interesting situation" indeed. It sounds like she may have been cuffed with her hands in front of her rather than behind, thats the only way i can see her having the ability to unbuckle and open the back door that quickly. Either way, there should have been an officer in the back w/ the Medic, no question about it.

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Never, never discount the possibility that someone handcuffed behind their back can access things at their sides or even to the front - especially a juvenile who is more flexible than older career criminals.

Handcuffs are only temporary restraints and are not a sure-fire way of controlling someone!

[Guest]

This exact accident happened in Stamford a few years back. A suspect who i believe was in custody for stabbing someone, was being transported up to Bridgeport for Psych evaluation. The kid, who i believe was about 16 or 17, got up from the cot, opened the door or the bus and leaped out onto I-95 near Exit 9 in Stamford. I dont remeber if i heard about any PD units following the bus, but none were on board..... This kid was not so lucky, or maybe he just forgot his religious bracelet, but he died on the scene.

Errily Similar to this incident.

[RC2389 0]

The way I learned it is, if the patient is cuffed or restrained to keep them from harming themselves/others, have an officer with you at all times.

I'm a bit curious how she managed to undo a number of straps, open the door and jump out before the paramedic got to her.