HAMILTON, ON. A 36 year old man managed to pull off what police are calling both “comical” and “serious” after he slid behind the wheel of an empty Hamilton Street Railway bus and drove off like he was simply covering a colleague’s shift.
The incident happened on the night of Nov. 11 at the McNab Bus Terminal when the regular driver stepped out for a short break. Hamilton Police say the man boarded, sat in the driver’s seat, and then just took off. There was no shouting, no threats and no Hollywood drama. He simply put the bus in gear and joined the flow of Hamilton traffic.
Hamilton Street Railway operates one of the oldest public transit systems in Canada and its articulated buses carry hundreds of riders each day. Police said the bus involved was equipped with full tracking and internal cameras, which allowed investigators to follow its progress in real time. Transit officials told media that the vehicle was secured according to standard procedure and that the suspect acted quickly during the driver’s brief absence. The incident has prompted HSR to review its operational practices, although police noted that the theft was unusual and not part of any larger trend.
Once he pulled away, things got stranger. According to police, the man drove the articulated bus up the Hamilton Mountain, making regular stops and letting passengers get on and off freely. Some riders had no idea anything unusual was happening. One even corrected the route when the bus drifted from the expected path.
The temporary operator was not just committed, he enforced transit rules. Police confirmed that at one stop he refused a would be rider because their pass had expired. The police news release put it plainly. “He even went as far as to deny someone looking to board with an expired Bus Pass.”
While passengers were puzzling over the world’s most dedicated unauthorized driver, Hamilton Police were tracking the bus through its onboard GPS. Officers tailed it quietly rather than risk sending forty feet of steel into a panic. After roughly four miles of this unexpected service extension, the bus was stopped safely on West 5th Street.
Hamilton Police spokesman Trevor McKenna did not pretend the situation was normal. He also did not pretend the suspect drove poorly. “There was not a ding on the bus. He did a great job,” McKenna told reporters. He also noted the obvious duality of the night. “It is comical but at the same time it is serious. We are thankful nobody was hurt.” In another interview he summed up the mood. “This is not a typical day in Hamilton.”
The suspect was arrested without incident. He is facing several charges including theft over five thousand dollars, possession over five thousand dollars, obstructing police and driving while prohibited. No injuries were reported and the bus was returned to the depot in better condition than anyone had any right to expect.
Police have also said there may be a mental health component to the incident. They have not released the man’s name.
For passengers, it will likely go down as one of the strangest rides of their lives. Imagine stepping onto a bus, tapping your card, grabbing a seat and only later learning that the guy driving is not a driver at all. Anyone who got turned away for an expired pass might even feel a little impressed. The man stole a bus, not transit standards.
Hamilton sees a lot but it rarely sees this. The next time someone jokes that anyone could drive these buses, the city has proof that someone already tried. And according to police, he did a surprisingly decent job.
