Passengers on a Hamilton city bus got an unexpected ride Tuesday night when a man allegedly stole the vehicle — but then drove it almost exactly like a regular bus driver.
Police say the 36-year-old man slipped behind the wheel of a Hamilton Street Railway bus in Hamilton, Ontario, after the real driver stepped off for a short break around 9 p.m. The bus already had about 10 passengers on board.
At the beginning of the trip, nothing seemed unusual. Riders only became suspicious when they noticed the bus drifting from its regular route — and the person driving wasn’t the actual driver.
Some passengers even had to give him directions as he turned down side streets and went off course.
Despite taking the bus, police say the man acted strangely responsible behind the wheel.
He continued stopping to pick up and drop off passengers — and even checked fares.
In one case, he reportedly refused to let a rider board because their bus pass was expired, insisting they pay with coins instead.
“He was playing by the rules,” Hamilton Police spokesman Trevor McKenna said.
The real driver alerted authorities, and police used GPS to track the articulated bus as it moved through the Hamilton Mountain area.
Unsure of the man’s intentions, officers chose not to use sirens or lights. Instead, they followed slowly behind for safety until they found a safe moment to intervene.
The untrained driver ended up operating the bus for roughly four miles before police moved in and made an arrest — about 15 minutes after the theft.
The man, who police say has no fixed address, was arrested and charged with theft, obstruction, driving while prohibited, and other offenses.
McKenna said the situation may involve a mental health component, which is why the man’s identity has not been released.
“On the surface, the whole thing sounds comical,” McKenna said, noting how unusual the ride was. “But it’s dangerous — this could have ended tragically. We’re thankful no one was injured.”
