Ohio paramedic rides Uber home

A private ambulance driver in Cleveland left a patient with chest pain at a roadside location last week to take an Uber home. The incident occurred while the patient was being transported to the Cleveland Clinic. According to local broadcaster KWTX, the driver told the patient he was done driving for the day after becoming lost.

The driver was employed by Lynx EMS, a private provider, rather than the municipal Cleveland Emergency Medical Services. Cleveland Association of Rescue Employees Local 1975 confirmed that a local EMS unit responded after the private driver departed. That team administered aid to the patient and completed the transport to the hospital.

The union clarified in a statement that the vehicle involved was not a Cleveland EMS ambulance but a private provider working under contract. Once the private provider left the scene, municipal EMS took over care and transport duties.

A Lynx EMS spokesperson told local media that immediate steps were taken to address the situation and ensure the patient's well-being. The company noted that it is continuing to review the circumstances and will take appropriate action based on the findings.

The spokesperson added that the company is unable to comment further on the specific details because the matter involves personnel and patient related issues.