Hijacked MTA Bus Driver Frees Passengers, Leaps Out Window in 35-Block Mayhem - NBC New York

A antheral equipped with a fake weapon hijacked an MTA autobus successful Queens aboriginal Thursday -- and crashed the conveyance into a inferior rod aft the operator jumped retired a model a fewer blocks later, according to police.

Authorities accidental the fishy ran successful beforehand of the Q4 autobus holding what appeared to beryllium a firearm astatine 199th Street and Linden Boulevard successful Cambria Heights astir 7:30 a.m. and boarded the bus. The operator past opened each the doors to fto the astir 2 twelve passengers off, and they escaped, leaving the autobus operator unsocial with the hijacker, officials said.

Cops said the hijacker made statements astir being chased and ordered the operator to support driving. He did, for different 30 oregon truthful blocks, cops said.

Once the autobus neared 232nd Street and Linden Boulevard, the operator jumped retired of the driver's broadside model and the hijacker leaped into the driver's seat. He grabbed the instrumentality and started driving, officials said.

The hijacker lone made it a artifact oregon truthful earlier helium crashed into a inferior rod betwixt 233nd and 234th streets. The 44-year-old fishy got disconnected the bus, which was crushed nether the pole, and was taken into custody crossed the street, constabulary said. The autobus operator who jumped retired the model was taken to a infirmary with insignificant injuries.

No injuries were reported to immoderate passengers connected the bus, though the fallen inferior rod triggered powerfulness outages for dozens of customers successful the area.

Charges are pending against the suspect, who besides was treated astatine a infirmary for insignificant injuries, officials said. His sanction has not been released. The limb was recovered. Police said it appeared to beryllium a BB gun.

They shared a photograph of it astatine the quality briefing (below).

A apical MTA authoritative said the bureau was thankful nary 1 was earnestly wounded successful the chaos and said the autobus operator had been with the MTA for 21 years. He was said to beryllium astatine the infirmary with MTA absorption and national representatives into the aboriginal day hours. No details connected the quality of his injuries were instantly available.

The probe is ongoing. Anyone who was connected the autobus oregon has further accusation is asked to telephone Crime Stoppers astatine 1-800-577-TIPS.