Ambulance joyride ends with woman's arrest

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A joyride in an ambulance ended with a 26-year-old woman behind bars this morning.

Police said the woman stole a Houston Fire Department ambulance just after 10pm and took it for a ride, seconds after paramedics dropped off a patient at St. Joseph's Hospital.

According to investigators, EMS workers transported a patient to St. Joseph's, but when they returned to the ambulance, it was gone.

Another ambulance found the stolen emergency vehicle nearly 45 minutes later on Pierce near Hutchins.

Police believe the woman was under the influence of drugs when she allegedly stole the ambulance. Officials said the vehicle wasn't damaged.

The woman was taken into custody and faces charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

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Golf cart joyride ends in felony arrests

  Four men face felony charges after stealing seven golf carts and causing thousands of dollars in damage, officials said.

Garrett Charles Walsh, 22, of Conroe and 19-year-old Ryan Fredrick Zacharias, 20-year-old Domenic Alexander Floyd and 22-year-old Dustin Duane Debord -- all of Fulshear -- were all arrested Tuesday.

According to the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office, the group broke into a building and stole seven golf carts, then took them on a joyride and vandalized them.

The damages are estimated at more than $30,000.

All four men are charged with burglary of a building.

Walsh, Zacharias and Floys were apprehended at their homes early Tuesday and officials said Debord turned himself in that afternoon. Walsh has a $75,000 bond and is currently on parole for a previous burglary charge. Zacharias, Debord and Floyd each have a $25,000 bond.

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Joyride ends in fatal crash in SW Houston

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A 14-year-old boy is dead after crashing a car in during an early morning joyride with four friends in southwest Houston.

It was a tough morning for the family of Luis Pineda Zavala, who according to his older brother, took the keys to his car without permission, then went for a joyride with two 16-year-olds, a 15-year-old and another teen.

The ride ended in a crash on Valley View near Mahoning, a short distance from Zavala's home, where the car rolled over and slammed into a tree. The 14-year-old driver died behind the wheel.

Neighbors say they won't forget the sound of the crash at about 12:30am.

"I heard a loud turn, then I heard a big crash," said eyewitness Vanessa Artiga.

She ran out and saw two teens trying to get out of the mangled car, but then saw a woman drive up in another vehicle.

"I heard a loud screech and she walked out and she came, pulled over and was like screaming," said Artiga.

HPD says one of the teens was able to call his mother who, according to police, came to the scene and picked up the four surviving passengers. Police say the mother took her son to the hospital and took the others to their homes.

It is still unclear whether or not Zavala was still alive when she arrived. Police say the mom later called 9-1-1 and returned to the scene after help arrived, but the district attorney is now investigating to see if her actions were criminal.

Meanwhile, Zavala's family and friends are grieving.

"I think it's sad. It's sad. I don't know what to say," said family friend Melissa Carranza.

The woman's son was taken to Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital. The other teens were eventually taken to Ben Taub Hospital. One of the parents of one of the teens involved tells Eyewitness News that one suffered a broken leg. The other girl suffered a broken back. We are still working to confirm all of their injuries. Police are speaking to them about the incident.

Zavala was a student at Sugar Grove Middle School. Grief counselors are on campus today.

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