Crew Assaulted and Ambulance Stolen Ends with Fatal Crash
Madman who hijacked ambulance and killed Alvin Hargrave in Demolition Derby on Greenbelt Road Charged with Fatal Wreck
The man that police have charged with hijacking an ambulance on the Beltway and then wrecking into 10 vehicles and killing a man, describes himself on his Linked In account as being “driven”.
Sebastian Isaksen lists his occupation as being an electrical communications engineer with TASC., Inc. for the past five years after spending two years with Northrop Grumman.
GREENBELT, MD. — The Prince George’s County Police Department has arrested a man after he carjacked a Branchville Volunteer Fire Department ambulance, and then caused a fatal collision in Greenbelt. The suspect is identified as 34-year-old Sebastian Isaksen, of the 2800 block of Beechbank Drive in Silver Spring.
On December 14, 2014, just before 6:00 pm, patrol officers were called to the 6200 block of Greenbelt Road for a report of an armed carjacking. The preliminary investigation reveals Isaksen was involved in a separate accident on the Capital Beltway. A Branchville Volunteer Fire Department ambulance crew in the area happened to see the accident and stopped to help. Isaksen assaulted the crew after they stopped, and then jumped into the ambulance and drove away.
A short time later, Isaksen exited the Beltway and was travelling on Greenbelt Road in Greenbelt. He approached slow-moving traffic in the 6200 block of Greenbelt Road and struck three occupied vehicles. The ambulance then left the roadway and hit nine additional cars and overturned in a restaurant parking lot.
The driver of a Mercedes, the first car struck in the initial multi-car collision, was transported to a hospital where he later died of his injuries. He is identified as 77-year-old Alvin Hargrave of Lakecrest Drive in Greenbelt. A 36-year-old pregnant woman, who was a passenger in the Mercedes, was transported to a hospital where she remains in stable condition.
The occupants of the remaining vehicles involved in the initial crash were not injured. None of the cars in the parking lot was occupied. The suspect suffered serious injuries and is in a hospital under police custody.
Detectives have charged Isaksen with carjacking, assault, and charges related to the carjacking. Our Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate the fatal collision, and will be working with the Office of the State’s Attorney to determine appropriate charges surrounding the fatal collision.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 301-772-4925. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call CRIME SOLVERS at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), text “PGPD plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) on your cell phone or go to www.pgcrimesolvers.com and submit a tip online.
GREENBELT, MD. — Prince Georges EMS spokesman Mark Brady reports that an ambulance crew was assaulted, their unit stolen and minutes later involved in a multi-vehicle crash involving a fatality. At about 5:30 pm, Sunday, December 14, Ambulance 811B was returning to their station after completing a patient transport.
As they were travelling southbound on the Capitol Beltway (Route 495) they witnessed a passenger car leave the roadway near the interchange of I-95. The ambulance pulled to the shoulder with the crew of two firefighter/EMT’s exiting to check on the welfare of the occupant.
A series of events occurred quickly with both crew-members being assaulted by the driver of the very car they stopped to help. The suspect proceeded to drive away in their ambulance. The volunteer firefighter/EMTs were visibly shaken but not injured.
The stolen ambulance proceeded south on Route 495 and exited onto Kenilworth Avenue and than west on Greenbelt Road. Two blocks down Greenbelt Road and about 15 minutes after this incident started the stolen unit caused a multi-vehicle crash. At least 3 vehicles on Greenbelt Road at 62nd Avenue in Greenbelt were damaged including a vehicle occupied by an adult male and female. The adult male sustained critical injuries and succumbed shortly after arriving at a local hospital. The adult female occupant was transported to a hospital with less serious injuries.
After striking the vehicle(s) on Greenbelt Road the ambulance careened down an embankment rolling onto its side while striking at least 7 unoccupied vehicles in the parking lot of a restaurant.
The now injured suspect was apprehended by police officers as he attempted to exit the unit. The adult male suspect was transported, in custody, to a local hospital where police describe his injuries as “critical.”
A total of 11 vehicles were involved (including the ambulance). Three people were transported from the scene (including the suspect in custody) and three people were treated or evaluated on the scene and did not go to the hospital.
The Prince George’s County Police Department will be conducting an investigation and accident reconstruction of the crash. All details will be released by them when available.
The Branchville Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Squad, Inc. in College Park own the ambulance. Branchville is just one of nine all-volunteer stations out of 45 stations that operate within the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department. The ambulance appears to be totaled with replacement costing about $250,000. Branchville owns a second ambulance and has access to a County reserve ambulance if needed.