Novi man allegedly hijacks ambulance following rollover crash

NOVI — A Novi man, in need of a new vehicle following a car crash on Oct. 25, decided to take the ambulance on the scene for a spin, resulting in a fiery crash a few miles later, according to Novi police.

“This is unbelievable,” said Cmdr. Robert Manar, of the Novi Police Department. 

According to Manar, shortly after 3 p.m., Novi police officers and Medstar ambulance services were on the scene of a four-vehicle rollover collision at 10 Mile and Novi roads. An emergency medical technician was in the back of the ambulance treating one of the drivers involved in the crash for minor injuries when the driver of one of the other vehicles suddenly hopped in the driver’s seat of the ambulance and took off, Manar said.

Changlin Li, 33, of Novi, allegedly drove the ambulance south on Novi Road from 10 Mile Road with police in pursuit. He then turned west on Eight Mile Road and continued on at a high rate of speed, police said. The ambulance chase ended approximately 4 miles later at Eight Mile and Beck roads when Li allegedly ran through a red light and crashed into a gray GMC SUV that had the right of way, according to police.  

The impact of the crash rendered the ambulance disabled and caused it to catch fire. Li allegedly then took off on foot and was apprehended by police shortly thereafter.  

The EMT and the patient were able to exit the ambulance with no additional injuries to the patient, according to police.

Manar said that he doesn’t know the motive for why Li allegedly fled.

“I don’t know why. I don’t know what was going through this guy’s head. He just made some bad decisions today,” Manar said. “I have no clue what his decision-making process was for today’s list of decisions he made.”

All parties involved were taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Li was arraigned Oct. 25 in 52-1 District Court on charges of carjacking, second-degree fleeing and eluding causing serious injury, two counts of resisting or obstructing a police officer, two counts of peace officer — disarming firearm, and carrying a concealed weapon.

He received a $5 million cash or surety bond. As of Oct. 28, he was lodged at the Oakland County Jail. The court did not have a record of an attorney for him at press time.