A patient stole an ambulance and drove it into the Kanawha River in Charleston early Thanksgiving morning.
Rescuers located Elizabeth Reed's body inside the ambulance as they worked to remove it from the river, according to WSAZ.
The Cedar Grove Volunteer Fire Department ambulance was parked outside Charleston Area Medical Center when Reed stole it around 12:30 a.m. Charleston police told WOWKTV that Reed was involved in an altercation with police officers before she stole the ambulance.
According to police, Reed drove the ambulance for less than 10 minutes until the ambulance crashed into a cement barrier in the 2200 block of Kanawha Boulevard. The ambulance continued to travel down an embankment and ended up in the river.
Charleston Fire Department divers found Reed's body inside the ambulance where it was submerged in 15-20 feet of water, WOWKTV reported.
A heavy-duty tow truck was used to bring the vehicle out of the water.
According to WCHSTV.com, this is the sixth ambulance that has been stolen in the Charleston area in the last five years.
The Charleston Police Department Crash Investigation Unit is investigating the incident.
