TUCSON, Ariz. — A driver who was traveling the wrong way on Interstate 10 near Tucson before crashing head-on with an ambulance on Jan. 23 has been arrested, Arizona DPS said.
Raul Ricardo Padilla, 20, has been charged with several felonies following the crash.
Officers with the Tucson Police Department tried to pull over a gray Dodge Charger for an infraction around 1:15 a.m. on Jan. 24 but the driver did not stop. Officers did not pursue the driver and instead called in air support, who saw the driver stop the car and flee on foot, officials said.
The passenger, identified as Padilla, then jumped in the driver's seat and left the area, officials said. The original driver was detained by officers a short time later.
Officers then saw the car near I-10 driving without its headlights on and "demonstrating erratic behavior," Tuscon police officials said. The driver then merged onto eastbound I-10 going in the wrong direction.
Officers warned other drivers on the interstate of the hazard by flashing their lights and requested help from DPS, but the vehicle crashed head-on into an ambulance.
The ambulance caught on fire before officers could help the occupants and special equipment was used to extricate the ambulance driver and passenger, officials said.
One of the medics and the suspect were treated for serious injuries but are expected to be OK. The other medic was critically injured, officials said.
Padilla has been charged with aggravated assault with a dangerous instrument (vehicle), criminal damage, unlawful flight from pursuing law enforcement, 5 counts of endangerment, and aggravated driving under the influence. He is currently being held in the Pima County Jail.
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