Angry passenger attacks bus driver on the road, causes crash

PHOENIX - Passengers on a valley bus witnessed a scary situation Saturday afternoon.

Police say a man for no reason got on the bus and attacked the driver, causing him to crash. It was a very close call for several people on the bus. Police say the driver was afraid for his life when he was being attacked before some brave passengers stepped in to help.

"I don't see this every day, it's just mind blowing, it's crazy," said Isaiah Brandon.

Around 3:30 this afternoon Isaiah Brandon caught the bus on 19th Avenue and Van Buren.

He was trying to make his way home and never imagined things would soon take a turn for the worst.

"The guy came on behind me and I go to the back of the bus, we start driving and the next thing I know I see the guy swinging and punching the bus driver," said Brandon

Brandon and four other men then jumped into action and pulled the man off the driver. During the attack the driver lost control and crashed into a light pole a few blocks away.

"Scared for my life."

Police say if it weren't for the brave passengers, things could have been much worse.

"I spoke with the bus driver and he was very thankful that they got in and helped him, he actually stated to me that he doesn't know what would have happened if they hadn't assisted him," said Lt. Tina Gonzales with the Phoenix Police Department.

Police aren't sure why the suspect, a Hispanic male in his 30's, attacked the 67-year-old bus driver, but he is being charged.

"He's going to be charged with an aggravated assault on the bus driver," said Gonzales"

The bus driver did have some injuries, but police say those injuries were non-life-threatening. However, his manager picked him up to take him to the hospital to be checked out. Luckily no one else was injured in the incident.

A witness describes the terrifying moments when a man boarded a Phoenix bus and attacked the bus driver. The story at 9 & 10