LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) – Yellow caution tape wraps around a pile of bricks marking the spot where a stolen ambulance smashed into the Home of the Innocents early Saturday morning.
"When I was woken up, I immediately was first concerned was that of the safety of our children and staff, not knowing where the accident had happened, but feared the worst that it had been right by our main door," Home of the Innocents President and CEO Paul Robinson said.
Robinson said he was relieved to find out no one was hurt in the crash as the ambulance crashed into a pillar along the walkway to the main entrance but still caused substantial damage.
"We are not sheltered from things that go wrong in this world and I think this is a great example of that," he said. "To have it on the far extremities of our main entrance is at least reassuring, but nonetheless, it's still extensive damage that's going to have to be required."
Louisville Metro Police said a suspect stole a Bullitt County ambulance that was unoccupied and left running outside the emergency room at Jewish Hospital, driving it into the Home of the Innocents around 1 a.m., with staff on site able to hear the crash.
"Our third shift supervisor, when she heard the crash, was able to immediately go to our camera to look at the footage without having to actually come out, which is good because that protected her from the person, not knowing whether or not he would have harmed her," Robinson said.
Robinson said his supervisor called the police after she watched the suspect get out of the truck and run away, leaving behind a pile of rubble. He said he is now going to look into different safety measures to try and make sure something like this does not happen again.
"Well we want to be open to the community because we're here to serve the community's children and families, but there may be a need to put additional barriers here along our curb that would keep someone from coming over the curb," he said.
Robinson said a contractor is expected to come out on Monday to assess the damage and determine how much it will cost to repair the pillar.
Louisville Metro Police do not have any suspects at this time. Anyone with information is asked to contact police through the anonymous tipline at 574-LMPD.