Charleroi, Belgium — A man has been taken into custody after stealing a SMUR emergency vehicle from the Marie Curie Hospital in Lodelinsart and causing a traffic accident during his escape, according to a statement from the Charleroi Public Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday morning.
The dramatic incident unfolded on Wednesday night at approximately 10:30 p.m. when the suspect reportedly entered the emergency department of the hospital under unclear circumstances.
Without authorization and for reasons that remain under investigation, he accessed the hospital’s garage area and commandeered a parked ambulance belonging to the SMUR (Service Mobile d’Urgence et de Réanimation), a specialized medical emergency response unit.
After taking the vehicle, the man drove in the direction of Gosselies, a district to the north of Charleroi. During his escape, he lost control of the ambulance and caused a traffic accident near a roundabout in Jumet, another neighborhood in the Charleroi area.
The exact details of the crash remain limited, but authorities have confirmed that no other individuals were injured in the incident.
Emergency services responded swiftly to the crash, and the suspect was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. The nature of his injuries has not been disclosed, but officials described them as non-life-threatening.
“The individual was transported to hospital for treatment, and no other injuries have been reported,” the Charleroi Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed in a statement released Thursday morning.
Following his medical evaluation, the suspect was placed in custody. He is expected to be questioned by investigators later in the day. Authorities have not yet disclosed the suspect’s identity or possible motive behind the ambulance theft.
The case has raised questions about hospital security protocols and how the suspect was able to access and operate a specialized emergency vehicle. The Marie Curie Hospital has yet to issue a public statement regarding the incident.
Local residents expressed concern over the unusual event. “It’s not every day you hear about someone stealing an ambulance,” said one Jumet resident who lives near the scene of the crash. “It’s fortunate that no one else was hurt.”
Police have cordoned off the area where the crash occurred as they continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the theft and collision. The SMUR vehicle, which sustained damage in the accident, has been towed from the scene.
While the investigation is still ongoing, judicial authorities have emphasized that the suspect is receiving appropriate care and will be subject to due legal process. Prosecutors have not ruled out the possibility of psychiatric evaluation depending on the outcome of his interrogation.
More details are expected to emerge as police complete their questioning and review surveillance footage from the hospital.
The Charleroi Public Prosecutor’s Office assured the public that the situation is under control and that updates will be provided as the investigation develops.
