A man commandeered a Hamilton city bus while passengers were onboard, according to police reports. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. when a bus driver took a short break at the downtown MacNab Bus Terminal. During this time, a 36-year-old man without a fixed address entered the bus, sat in the driver’s seat, and drove off towards the Mountain area.
The bus involved was an articulated model, featuring a connecting accordion-like section between the front and back vehicles, as clarified by police spokesperson Trevor McKenna. The unauthorized driver made multiple stops, allowing passengers to embark and disembark along the route, with up to 10 passengers present at certain points.
Despite the unauthorized joy ride, the man managed the bus without causing any damage, as mentioned by McKenna. While the situation had a humorous aspect, authorities emphasized the seriousness of the incident and expressed relief that no one was harmed.
In response to the incident, transit director Nancy Purser stated that the city is collaborating with law enforcement to explore potential measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. On the other hand, the union representing bus drivers did not provide any comments when contacted.
According to the police, initially, passengers were unaware that the man was not an official driver. However, as he started making incorrect turns, passengers began to question his identity, and one even provided directions to guide the bus back to its intended route. The man even refused entry to a passenger with an expired bus pass, as mentioned in the police statement.
Authorities discreetly monitored the bus to minimize risks to public safety, utilizing GPS tracking provided by the Hamilton Street Railway to track its movements without activating sirens. The pursuit culminated in the man being apprehended peacefully on West 5th Street approximately 15 minutes later.
The man faced charges including theft over $5,000, possession over $5,000, obstructing police, and driving while prohibited. Due to potential mental health considerations, the man’s identity was withheld by authorities.
