LOS ANGELES, CA – A man in California is now in police custody after an alleged bus hijacking turned into a wild ride, culminating in a crash into one of the city’s iconic hotels.
The suspect, who remains unidentified, reportedly commandeered a Los Angeles Metro bus, brandishing what was later identified as a BB gun at the driver.
The man directed the driver to make a number of stops across the city, leading to a series of collisions as the bus driver was forced to flout traffic rules under duress.
Witnesses and video footage show the bus running a red light at the junction of West 11th Street and South Grand Avenue, resulting in a collision with another vehicle.
The chaotic event reached a climax when the bus smashed into the wall of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on West Olympic Boulevard. The impact damaged a vault inside the hotel.
The suspect tried to escape following the crash but was quickly apprehended by the Los Angeles Police Department. Preliminary investigations suggest the suspect may be without a home.
There were no passengers on the Metro bus during the hijacking. The bus driver and a motorist involved in the accident were taken to the hospital with non-critical injuries.