Mental patient steals hospital vehicle and gets caught
He drove through hospital gates in his get away
A mental patient stole a Department of Health vehicle yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) from a hospital in Tugela Ferry to escape from the facility.
The patient got into the van which already had the keys inside the ignition and drove away knocking through hospital gates in his get away.
He drove from Tugela Ferry into Ladysmith and then on the R103 heading out of Ladysmith towards Colenso.
Public Safety officers were conducting speed control outside the Platrand Lodge gates when their camera spotted the vehicle travelling above the speed limit.
They tried to flag down the patient to stop the vehicle but he didn’t. Public Safety officer, L Fourie, gave chase and managed to stop the speeding vehicle near Roosboom. RTI officers also responded to scene.
When the driver was stopped he put his hands out the vehicle and told the officers to lock him up as he claimed to be a mental patient.
The traffic officers found many syringes and hospital equipment in the vehicle.
The patient was arrested by police and a case of a stolen vehicle was reported.
