*UPDATE* Pursuit of stolen ambulance ends in crash

*UPDATE* October 18, 2024

On October 16, 2024, Adam C. Cole, 25, of Amsterdam, NY, was charged with the following additional charges, as a result of the continued investigation into the pursuit:

•              Kidnapping in the second degree
•              Grand Larceny in the second degree
•              Reckless Endangerment in the second degree
•              Unlawful Imprisonment in the first degree
•              Obstructing Emergency Medical Services

The investigation also revealed that on August 31, 2024, just before Cole allegedly stole the ambulance, he approached an occupied vehicle in the area of Main Street in the Village of Cobleskill. He then reportedly physically assaulted the occupant and attempted to steal their vehicle before fleeing on foot. On October 16, 2024, Cole was additionally charged with the following as a result of this incident:

•              Attempted Robbery in the second degree
•              Assault in the third degree

Cole was produced from the Schenectady County Correctional Facility, where he has been held due to the original charges of Assault in the first degree, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the second degree, Reckless Endangerment in the first degree, and Operating a Motor Vehicle Impaired by Drugs. He was arraigned on all new charges at the Cobleskill Town Court where Cole was remanded without bail and returned to the Schenectady County Correctional Facility.

Original Release published September 1, 2024

On Saturday, August 31, at about 10:17 p.m., Schoharie EMS responded to Main Street in the village of Cobleskill to assist a woman who was suffering from a diabetic emergency

After the patient was loaded into the ambulance, Adam C. Cole, 25, of Schenectady, told the two EMS personnel that there was a second medical emergency nearby. As the two EMS personnel got out of the ambulance, Cole got into the driver’s seat and drove off. 

A short time later, a Schoharie County Sheriff’s Deputy spotted the ambulance traveling east on I -88 and attempted to make a traffic stop, but Cole failed to comply. State Police patrols responded and joined the pursuit. At this time, it was believed that the female patient from the original medical call was still inside the ambulance.

As the pursuit left Schoharie County, State Police patrols took the lead. The ambulance continued onto the NYS Thruway, I-890, and then entered the city of Schenectady. Cole was travelling on Eastern Avenue when he entered the intersection with Brandywine Avenue and crashed into a 1988 Nissan 300Z.

The operator of the Nissan, Jesus Espinal Jr., 24, of Utica, suffered serious injuries in the crash and was transported to Albany Medical Center where he is critical condition.  Cole was the only person in the ambulance at the time of the crash and was not seriously injured. He remains in custody and multiple charges are pending. Cole also has an active arrest warrant out of the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office for Grand Larceny 3rd degree.

During the investigation it was learned that shortly after taking the ambulance, Cole pulled over on Route 7 in Cobleskill and the medical patient got out at a Speedway gas station. She was transported in a private vehicle to a hospital where she was treated and released.

The Schenectady and Rotterdam Police Departments, as well as the Schenectady Fire Department assisted with this incident.