A 36-year-old unidentified man took a city bus in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, for a joy ride recently, with passengers still onboard. At about 9 a.m., a bus driver parked at the downtown MacNab Bus Terminal and left for a short break. That’s when the unidentified man boarded the bus, sat down in the driver’s seat, and drove away. The bus was an extra long model, meaning it had an accordion-like attachment joining the first vehicle to the second vehicle. According to police spokesman Trevor McKenna, the man made several stops along the way, allowing passengers to get on and off at bus stops. At first, passengers didn't even realize the man wasn't a real bus driver, but when he began making some wrong turns, they started asking him questions. One passenger even gave the man directions on how to return to the scheduled route. The fake driver even went so far as to deny someone to board with an expired bus pass. Police followed the bus at a distance so as not to spook the driver, not using lights or sirens. When the bus stopped on West 5th Street, the man was taken into custody without incident. He was charged with theft over $5,000, driving without credentials, and obstruction. McKenna said the man did a great job of driving the bus, noting that there wasn't so much as a ding on the bus when it was recovered. Transit Director Nancy Purser said the city is working with police to see what changes can be made to prevent similar incidents in the future. The man’s name was not released because they suspect there’s a mental health issue involved.
