A 57-year-old woman driving a CTA bus made a daring escape from a window early Wednesday when a knife-wielding man commandeered her bus, making her drive off its route for several miles, sources say.
According to a law enforcement source, passengers were also aboard the bus during the kidnapping.
No one was injured, and charges were pending against the man, who was arrested on the city’s Near North Side after a CTA supervisor tracked the bus, police said.
The attack unfolded about 2:40 a.m. aboard the No. 53 Pulaski bus in the 2400 block of North Pulaski Road, police and the CTA said.
A man riding the bus suddenly pulled a sharp object and demanded the bus “not stop,” making her drive off her route by nearly 6 miles, into the Near North Side, police said.
The driver complied, but not long after was able to climb out a window, police said.
A CTA supervisor was able to track the bus, and the suspect fled but was quickly arrested in the 100 block of West Chestnut Street.
In a statement, the CTA — which is pushing for felony charges — praised police for their “swift actions” leading to the “immediate apprehension” of the suspect. The agency did respond to inquiries about passengers but said it will work closely with law enforcement to assist the investigation.