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A Maryland man named Darell T. Caldwell, 30, committed multiple hit-and-run crashes in a stolen ambulance and truck on major highways in northern Virginia. Caldwell was eventually apprehended in Washington, D.C. No serious injuries were reported in the incidents. Caldwell was charged by federal and local law enforcement, with state police charges still pending. The string of accidents began on Interstate 66 and Interstate 395, involving stolen vehicles and causing multiple crashes. The stolen ambulance was pursued by police and ultimately collided with a parked car in Washington, leading to Caldwell’s arrest. Associated Press reported
Arlington, Virginia – A man from Maryland has been responsible for more than a dozen hit-and-run accidents, all while driving a stolen ambulance and a stolen truck on various major highways in northern Virginia. The suspect, identified as Darell T. Caldwell, aged 30 and from Brandywine, Maryland, was eventually apprehended in the District of Columbia. Thankfully, there were no reports of serious injuries resulting from the crashes that occurred on Saturday on sections of Interstate 66, I-395, and the George Washington Memorial Parkway, according to the Virginia State Police. While Caldwell has been charged by federal and local law enforcement, the state police charges are still pending. He is currently undergoing evaluation at a hospital.
The series of accidents began shortly after 3:30 p.m. when state police responded to a collision involving two vehicles on the eastbound lanes of I-66. Caldwell was identified as the driver of one of the vehicles, a stolen truck from Virginia. After leaving the scene, Caldwell caused another multi-vehicle crash on the northbound lanes of I-395, involving the same stolen truck, which resulted in five individuals being sent to the hospital.
Following this incident, Caldwell fled on foot, and a few minutes later, state police were called to another crash on the Parkway. This crash involved Caldwell, who was driving a second stolen truck in the wrong direction and collided with another car. The manner in which Caldwell obtained the second stolen truck remains unclear. During this time, as an Arlington County ambulance responded to the I-395 crash, Caldwell seized the opportunity and drove off in it while medics attended to another driver.
Upon discovering the stolen ambulance, a trooper initiated a pursuit and caught up to the emergency vehicle. However, as the trooper was getting out of their patrol car, the stolen ambulance unexpectedly rammed into it. Subsequently, both the state police and Arlington county police chased after the stolen ambulance, which eventually entered Washington before colliding with a parked car on the I-395 express lanes. Caldwell was taken into custody without any further incidents.
One of the victims, Hailey Ruggiero, recounted her experience of being rear-ended by the stolen ambulance near Reagan National Airport. She expressed surprise that neither the ambulance nor the officer following it stopped after the collision. Ruggiero stated, “I’m grateful to still be alive. I just hope that justice is served for all of us who were affected.”.
