Jacko Flees in SUV After Crash With Ambulance: EMT

Man snaps photos allegedly showing King of Pop entering vehicle

The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, on Wednesday may have been involved in a bizarre hit-and-run collision with an ambulance in Los Angeles, and on Thursday his suspected driver finally spoke with police.

Emergency medical technician Jamin Mauro and his partner were idling outside Cedars-Sinai hospital on Wednesday when a black Cadillac Escalade plowed into their vehicle, sideswiping the ambulance and knocking a mirror off the emergency vehicle. The driver then hopped out of the vehicle with an umbrella, walked to the hospital doors and met Jackson, Mauro said.

"We were hit by the Escalade, and I was taking pictures for my company insurance," Mauro said. "About 30 seconds after, Jackson walked out of a medical building. He jumped into the Escalade and they sped off."

Mauro said a nurse confirmed that Jackson had been in the building. The EMT said that the man resembled the pop star and he believed his photos could confirm that.

The pop star may have been in town for a public exhibition conducted by Julien's Auctions. Items being presented range from his "iconic white-jeweled glove to the grandiose entry gates to Neverland Ranch," according to juliensauctions.com.

On Thursday morning, the suspected Escalade driver showed up at the Beverly Hills Police station to tell his side of the story, according to police spokesman Lt. Tony Lee.

A police investigator determined the Escalade only hit the ambulance mirror. An officer involved in the investigation called it "mirror-to-mirror brush" contact.

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The officer will submit his report to the District Attorney for review as to whether a charge should be filed for hit and run. The driver was not arrested, Lee said.

The Beverly Hills Police Department issued a statement acknowledging the collision took place at about 3:20 p.m. Wednesday, but did not make any mention of Jackson. The cops did note that paparazzi had been following the Escalade at the time of the collision.

"The suspect's vehicle, a dark colored SUV, struck a parked vehicle causing moderate damage to the victim's vehicle. The suspect's vehicle was being followed by a group of paparazzi at the time of the collision," according to the statement.

Mauro said he and his partner were banged up in the crash, but more upset that the driver of the Escalade did not take the time to exchange information before driving off.

The medic, who did not ask for compensation for his photos, added that he was unsure why the driver ignored the busted ambulance.

"I don't know if Jackson told him to leave or not," Mauro said. "But they should have stayed."

Messages left for one Jackson publicist were unreturned.  Dr. Tohme Tohme, who also reps for Jacko, said he had no knowledge of the incident.  A call to the star's lawyer, Londell McMillan, of The McMillan Firm in New York was answered by a man who said they do not comment on such issues.

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