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SAN BERNARDINO – A male patient being transported to a Torrance mental institution assaulted and carjacked two ambulance drivers on Sunday afternoon.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials said that both the Riverside and San Bernardino CHP were advised that a stolen ambulance was headed on the 15 freeway north from Jurupa Road. Riverside CHP initially began pursuing the ambulance, and San Bernardino area CHP units took over the pursuit on the I-15 north of Glen Helen Road. The suspect drove at speeds of around 80 mph. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department deputies were made aware of the approaching pursuit and were able to deploy a spike strip on the I-15 north at Main Street in the Hesperia area. The suspect veered to the right to avoid the spike strip, causing him to collide with a ditch east of the roadway.

The suspect exited the ambulance and fled on foot into the dirt field east of Mariposa. A Sheriff’s helicopter assisted as deputies chased the suspect. The suspect was taken into custody. The suspect was identified as Joseph Matthew Machado, 30, of Perris. Machado was taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center for evaluation and treatment. No injuries were sustained by the suspect or CHP personnel.

Machado is facing charges of Carjacking, Felony Evading, Hit and Run, Vehicle Theft, and Assault of Emergency Personnel. The incident remains under investigation and no additional information is available for release at this time.