BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio --

A patient being transported to a psychiatric hospital in Bellaire late Wednesday escaped from an ambulance and darted into traffic before being hit by a car, according to Bellaire police.

The accident happened on State Route 7 near 48th Street in Bellaire, and police said the patient, 43-year-old Lynn Schmidt of Deersville, Ohio, is in critical condition as a result of the accident.

Schmidt was rushed to Ohio Valley Medical Center to be treated.

Ohio State Highway Patrol said a couple from Moundsville was in the car that hit the pedestrian, but they were not at fault.

Bellaire Chief Mike Kovalyk told NEWS9 Schmidt managed to get away from the ambulance near the Belmont Community Hospital, where she was supposed to be taken.

Kovalyk said Schmidt would have had to run at least two blocks away from the emergency workers to make it on to route 7.

The ambulance service involved is American Medical Response, according the police.

Late Thursday AMR declined comment as to exactly what happened, but Public Relations Manager Douglas Moore told NEWS9 that the incident is currently under investigation.

Stay with NEWS9 for continuing coverage.