8/8/22 Athens, AL – Stolen Vehicle Crash – Athens Limestone Ambulance Stops To Help – Man Steals The Ambulance – EMT Falls Out Of The Back Injured – 2nd EMT Kidnapped – Crash – Man Then Steals Tanner Volunteer FD Truck And Totals It – Escaped – K9 Captured Him

A man was arrested Sunday morning after stealing an ambulance and then a firetruck after crashing the ambulance.

According to the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office, Tyrek Hayes was picked up by an Athens-Limestone EMS ambulance for a welfare check. Hayes then entered the driver’s seat leaving one EMT in the patient area and throwing another from the vehicle.

Hayes then drove north before leaving the roadway and nearly landing the ambulance in Swan Creek. At that point, Hayes allegedly fled on foot until he reached Hwy. 31 where he was able to steal a firetruck that belonged to the Tanner Volunteer Fire Department.

The Athens Police Department says that prior to stealing the EMS vehicles, Hayes entered a vehicle that wasn’t his at a Circle K on Hwy. 31. The owner of that vehicle confronted him and Hayes ran off, he then attempted to steal another car but a woman fought him off and he ran down Shaw St.

After running away from the woman, Hayes broke into McClary Tire on Hobbs St. where he stole a Chevrolet Equinox that was parked in the lot. After stealing the vehicle, Hayes got the vehicle stuck on Garrett Rd.

The ambulance that he stole found him just after he had gotten the Equinox stuck.

Hayes drove southbound in the truck on Hwy. 31 but when law enforcement spotted him, he once again left the roadway. Hayes drove a quarter mile off-road before crashing into a thicket and totaling the vehicle. Hayes then attempted to flee on foot but was quickly caught by Athens Police Officers and deputies with the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office.

Hayes has been charged with two counts of theft, assault, kidnapping, reckless endangerment, attempting to elude law enforcement, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held at the Limestone County Detention Center and bond has not been set at this time.