A Greyhound bus narrowly avoided disaster late Wednesday when a passenger reportedly tried to seize control of the vehicle on Interstate 27, Amarillo police and fire officials said.
According to the Amarillo Police Department, officers were dispatched about 10:38 p.m. Sept. 10 to the Tractor Supply parking lot at 8511 Canyon Drive after reports that a 32-year-old male passenger attempted to take the wheel of the bus. Investigators said the driver managed to keep the vehicle from striking a large roadside sign as it left the interstate and rolled into the parking lot.
Passengers told police the man appeared to be under the influence of narcotics and acted erratically. After the bus came to a stop, he tried to flee and allegedly attempted to carjack a vehicle in the lot before other passengers restrained him. The man became unresponsive while being held. Paramedics administered Narcan, reviving him before he was taken to a local hospital, police said. He remains in custody as the investigation continues.
The Amarillo Fire Department said it dispatched five apparatus and 14 personnel to the scene, where crews found the bus with a shattered windshield and front-end damage. Firefighters divided into sectors, with Engine 3 assessing passengers and Engine 13 providing emergency medical care to the patient, who was located in a nearby parking lot. Advanced life support measures, including CPR, were performed before Amarillo Medical Services took the man to Northwest Texas Hospital in critical condition.
AFD reported that 27 passengers and the driver were evaluated, and all refused treatment or transport. A replacement bus was arranged to pick them up.
No other injuries were reported. Police said the case remains under investigation.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: APD: Greyhound bus hijacking attempt ends in crash, man taken to hospital
Reporting by Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
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