Bicyclist Injured In Springfield Ambulance Accident

Personal Injury - April 25, 2025

Bicyclist Injured in Springfield Car Accident Involving Stolen Ambulance Near 11th and Carpenter

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS (April 25, 2025) — A bicyclist was injured in a Springfield car accident involving an ambulance near the intersection of 11th and Carpenter.

Springfield police officials are saying that the accident took place around noon on Tuesday. Police officers were called to the scene after getting reports that a bicyclist was hit by someone operating a stolen ambulance.

The victim was taken to the hospital in order to receive treatment. Authorities believe that the ambulance was initially stolen from the ambulance bay at HSHS St. John’s Hospital.

Springfield police have since arrested a 38-year-old man in connection with the theft of the ambulance. He has been charged with motor vehicle theft and aggravated battery.

A full investigation into the Springfield ambulance accident remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Accidents Involving Stolen Vehicles

Many people are injured every year in accidents involving stolen vehicles. According to one study in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, “During the time period of the study, 1,232 patients (either as the driver or passenger) were admitted after a MVC, 115 patients (8%) were identified as sustaining injuries secondary to a MVC involving a stolen car. Injuries after car theft represent 8% of all MVC-related admissions.” Drivers should take reasonable measures to prevent their vehicle from being stolen.

Locked Doors: Drivers should always lock their doors and roll up their windows as a matter of habit. This is important, even if a driver is stepping away from their vehicle for a short period of time.
Car Keys: Drivers should never leave their keys in their vehicle. Keys in a vehicle can be an attractive target for potential thieves.
Park in Well-Lit Areas: It is typically best to park in areas that are well lit with heavy foot traffic.

All drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid hitting pedestrians and cyclists in the roadway. Pursuant to 625 ILCS 5/11-703, drivers must maintain at least 3 feet of distance whenever they are passing a cyclist. If a driver fails to slow down in order to avoid hitting a bicyclist, this could form the basis of a liability claim. Depending on the facts of any case, liability for a bicycle accident could extend beyond an at-fault driver.

The owner or operator of a vehicle could potentially be held at fault if their vehicle is stolen and involved in an injury collision. As a general principle, vehicle owners are not liable for injuries caused by third parties that steal a vehicle. But liability may occur if special circumstances made the theft foreseeable. Consider, for example, Hallmark Insurance Co. v. Chicago Transit Authority. The Illinois court held that vehicle owners could be liable for injuries caused by a third party if their vehicle is stolen if special circumstances exist that made the theft foreseeable. It is important that certain steps are taken after any injury accident.

Medical records related to the accident should be preserved.
Surveillance footage that may have captured what happened should be sought.
Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
An experienced personal injury attorney should be contacted.

It could be hard to know where to begin if you’ve been injured in a car accident. This is particularly true when the person operating the vehicle that hit you stole it from someone else. These cases present numerous challenges and often involve novel legal theories. It is important that accident victims understand that they do have legal options if they are injured in an accident involving a stolen vehicle. Victims may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a personal injury claim.

Investigating Sangamon County Ambulance Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the cyclist injured in this Springfield ambulance accident. It is our sincere hope that they’re able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened. Many questions remain unanswered. Did the operator of this ambulance leave the keys in the vehicle before it was stolen?

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Springfield ambulance accident? Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We are dedicated to helping victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance, we may be able to help you. You can contact our firm anytime at (312) 564-4256.