Body camera video shows the moment New Mexico State Police say a 24-year-old man grabbed a bus steering wheel, sent the vehicle into oncoming traffic on Interstate 10 and pulled a knife before being arrested.
DOÑA ANA COUNTY — Body camera video shows the moment New Mexico State Police say a 24-year-old man grabbed a bus steering wheel, sent the vehicle into oncoming traffic on Interstate 10 and pulled a knife before being arrested.
State police said the bus was traveling from Las Cruces to El Paso, Texas, on Sept. 24 when Aroni Diaz, 24, attempted to take control of the wheel.
Investigators said Diaz drove the bus through a gate and across the interstate into oncoming traffic. The driver was able to stop the bus by putting it in neutral and engaging the emergency brake. Police said Diaz pleaded for help and repeatedly demanded to get off the bus during the incident.
According to investigators, Diaz then attacked the driver again and pulled a knife. He allegedly forced open the bus doors and ran toward oncoming traffic on Interstate 10.
“Literally threatened the bus driver with a knife.” One passenger said, who shared video of the incident, “He was saying get me out of here, get me out of the bus, ayuda, ayuda, like help me, help me. Bro he literally almost freaking killed all of us.”
NMSP said officers arrested Diaz before another dangerous situation unfolded. “His objective was to go to oncoming traffic he succeeded because its facing onto on-coming traffic.”
The final video included in the case shows officers taking Diaz to a hospital and asking whether he had used drugs.
“¿Hiciste drogas? ¿Qué hiciste de drogas? ¿Nomás marihuana? ¿No la mezclaste con algo más? ¿Y hace cuánto que hiciste eso?”
“Did you use drugs? What kind of drugs did you use? Just marijuana? You didn’t mix it with anything else? And how long ago did you do that?”
The bus driver told NMSP, the bus station had previous encounters with Diaz. No one suffered serious injuries in the incident.
Diaz faces charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery. Court records show he was released with conditions and is scheduled to return to court next month.
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