A 23-year-old woman was arrested yesterday after she jumped into the driver's seat of a city ambulance and drove a short distance before paramedics regained control, police said.

The incident began about 4 p.m. in the parking lot of the Kaka'ako Waterfront Park, where the ambulance crew had responded to a call. While the two mobile intensive care technicians were working on the patient in the back of the ambulance, the woman got behind the wheel of the rig, police said.

The woman threatened the two in an attempt to get them to leave the ambulance, police said. But before the workers and their patient had a chance to get out, the woman drove the ambulance away, police said.

One of the ambulance workers tried to remove the keys, but the woman assaulted him, police said. The ambulance crew eventually was able to get her to stop the vehicle before she left the park's parking lot, police said.

The woman was arrested on suspicion of second-degree robbery, second-degree assault and unauthorized control of a vehicle. She remained in police custody last night pending charges.

The 32-year-old male ambulance worker was not seriously injured, police said. The patient's condition was not available, although police said they believed the patient was not being treated for anything life-threatening.

Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the city Emergency Services Department, said the incident was under investigation and would not comment further.