A CTA bus driver is safe after a terrifying overnight ordeal in which she was kidnapped at knifepoint while working on Chicago’s Northwest Side, according to CBS Chicago.
According to Chicago police, the incident happened around 2:37 a.m. Wednesday in the 2400 block of North Pulaski Road. Authorities said a man riding the bus approached the 57-year-old driver, displayed a sharp object, and threatened her while demanding she continue driving.
Police say the suspect forced the driver to keep moving through parts of the city as the frightening situation unfolded during the early morning hours. At some point, the bus made its way to the Near North Side, where the driver saw an opportunity to escape.
Investigators said the woman managed to climb out of a bus window and get away safely before alerting authorities. The suspect then fled the area.
Chicago police later located the suspect and took him into custody. Charges were pending Wednesday as detectives continued investigating the incident.
No physical injuries were reported, but the incident has sparked concerns surrounding the safety of CTA workers, especially bus operators working overnight shifts across Chicago.
The CTA has faced ongoing conversations about employee and passenger safety in recent years, with transit workers frequently calling for stronger protections and increased security measures on buses and trains.
Officials have not yet released additional information about the suspect or a possible motive behind the alleged kidnapping.
The investigation remains ongoing.
