MACON, Ga. — Hunter McClure has always wanted a career where he can help others. Last year, he started working for Southeast Ambulance Services as an EMT.
McClure says his job involves an array of duties and responsibilities. One of them is helping patients get to and from their dialysis appointments.
On Friday, McClure and his partner were picking up a patient at DaVita East Macon on Emery Highway. He says they do transport like this about twice a day. Normally, he will leave the truck running while picking up patients.
"It was a nurse and another lady screaming. We stopped, I got out to them and said 'Is everything ok?' And they're like, 'No, that lady just stole your ambulance,'" McClure said.
The suspect, Jessica Lusher, stole the ambulance, drove across the parking lot, and stopped at Trooper's Collision Center. McClure told 13WMAZ she hit other vehicles and hit a tree before coming to a complete stop.
McClure's instinct was to go over to the ambulance and help Lusher. After he opened the door, Lusher hit him with a steel rebar.
McClure says deputies arrived in less than three minutes and arrested Lusher. He says deputies told him Lusher had used the rebar in the incident before taking the ambulance.
The deputy's report also confirmed Lusher had cocaine and meth in her system.
However, this isn't the first time an ambulance has been stolen in Central Georgia.
In February 2023, a naked man under the influence of drugs led deputies on a chase in Macon while driving a stolen ambulance. In September 2023, an Atlanta woman stole an ambulance and led Monroe County deputies on a chase after she stole the vehicle in Henry County.
McClure says Lusher was screaming at him when he got her to open the door.
"She was talking nonsense and in circles," McClure said.
While McClure didn't expect this to happen to him, he says it was a learning experience. Next time, he'll make sure to lock the doors.
Lusher is in custody at the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center. She's charged with simple battery and theft by taking.