Trendpills
A 51-year-old Hamilton man is facing charges after a bizarre incident in which he allegedly stole a city bus and embarked on an hour-long joyride, even stopping to pick up an unsuspecting passenger who dutifully paid their fare. The strange event unfolded early one Sunday morning, prompting a swift response from transit authorities and local law enforcement that brought the unauthorized trip to a halt on a major city parkway.
The incident began around 6:30 a.m. at the Hamilton GO Centre on Hunter Street East. An official Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) bus had been left temporarily idling while its operator was on a scheduled break. It was during this time that the man allegedly boarded the empty vehicle and drove off. For nearly an hour, he navigated through parts of the city. The most peculiar part of the journey occurred when he stopped at a designated bus stop to let a lone passenger board. Remarkably, the passenger paid the standard fare and took a seat, apparently oblivious that the man behind the wheel was not an HSR employee.
HSR dispatch was quickly notified of the unsanctioned movement of their vehicle and immediately began monitoring its location using the onboard GPS system. The transit authority relayed this real-time tracking information to the Hamilton Police Service, enabling officers to coordinate an interception. The joyride concluded on the Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway, where police successfully pulled the bus over. The suspect was arrested without incident and taken into custody.
Officials confirmed that no one was injured during the event, and the bus was recovered with no damage. The passenger who had boarded mid-journey was safely let off by police at the scene. Hamilton police later stated that the 51-year-old resident was charged with theft of a motor vehicle valued at over $5,000. He was scheduled for a court appearance to address the charges, concluding an unusual case that briefly turned a public transit vehicle into a getaway car.
