Private ambulance driver leaves chest‑pain patient in Ohio, takes Uber home

A patient experiencing chest pains was left unattended by a private ambulance driver in Cleveland, Ohio, before being rescued by Cleveland EMS. The incident occurred while the patient was being taken to the Cleveland Clinic, according to The Guardian. The driver reportedly became lost, announced that he was "done driving for the day," and called an Uber to return home, the report said. Local broadcaster KWTX quoted the driver as saying, "The ambulance driver got lost, told her he was done driving for the day, and called an Uber."

Cleveland EMS intervened and transported the patient to the hospital after the driver abandoned the call. The case highlights a lapse in protocol for private ambulance services, prompting questions about oversight and patient safety in emergency transport.

Why it matters

The abandonment of a patient in need of urgent care raises concerns about the reliability of private ambulance operators and the safety of emergency medical transport.

Key details

Location

United States · Americas

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

2 Nov 2026, 19:22 IST

Key names

Uber, Cleveland EMS, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio

Section

Health

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The Guardian‘Done for the day’: US ambulance driver abandons patient and takes Uber home 2 Nov, 19:22

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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