A police chase involving the Kenai police, and a bus driven by a minor ended in Nikiski when the bus crashed, rolling over on the side of the road.
Kenai Police received a report at 3:30pm on Wednesday, of a white bus driving dangerously in a store parking lot. As officers attempted to stop the bus, the driver fled from downtown Kenai to Nikiski where he ultimately crashed, and rolled the bus.
Lieutenant Ben Langham of the KPD spoke to KSRM News about the pursuit, and what additional information the department is seeking from the public.
“A pursuit went from Kenai to Nikiski,” Langham explained. “During that pursuit, the driver was driving really recklessly into the oncoming lane multiple times, and so we know that a number of drivers in the area took evasive action to avoid being struck by the bus. So, we’re asking anybody who essentially took evasive maneuvers to give us a call – to give us a statement about what they saw. If they’re interested in coming forward, we’d love to hear from them.”
Langham confirmed that the driver of the bus was a minor, and a male, but could not provide further details on what precipitated the incident, or how the young man ended up driving the bus in the first place.
“We don’t know of any injuries that actually resulted from this pursuit, including the driver,” Langham went on to say. “The driver was uninjured. He was taken to the hospital to be checked out, but there were no injuries, so it was more of a precautionary check. We know that the driver of the fleeing bus clipped one vehicle and we’ve been able to make contact with that driver and get a statement.
The young man driving the bus was arrested and charged multiple crimes including Vehicle Theft 1, Fail to Stop at Direction of Peace Officer and Assault.
If you took evasive action to avoid being struck by the bus, please call us at (907) 283-7879.