DC man steals Metrobus, crashes into tree

[July 12, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Metro Transit Police officials are investigating how a 19-year-old D.C. man was able to steal a Metrobus, crash it into a tree and ultimately abandon the bus when officers stopped the vehicle.

Police said they arrested the man on Friday and charged him with unauthorized use of a vehicle and fleeing an accident. No injuries were reported.

According to preliminary reports, the man is not a Metro employee but entered a bus facility wearing a bus driver's uniform and drove a bus out of the lot. He allegedly drove the bus about three miles before crashing into a tree in southeast Washington and continued driving it several blocks until Metro police stopped the vehicle after a 911 call about the accident.

The man allegedly fled the bus and was apprehended shortly after.

[Associated Press]

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