Durban - A quick-thinking 66-year-old bus driver has managed to avoid being hijacked by turning the tables on his attacker and disarming him.
Police said in a statement that the Phoenix resident drove a bus for a private company contracted to Portnet and on Monday was transporting commuters from Durban to all the railway stations along the route to Kelso on the mid-South Coast.
“At about 1pm, the last remaining passenger on board approached the driver, pointed a 9mm pistol at him, and ordered him to drive to a destination of his choice. The hapless driver got onto the N2 freeway and drove south as instructed,” said police in a statement.
Fearing the worst if he continued, the driver turned into the off-ramp at Hibberdene and got onto the north-bound carriageway, determined to drive back to his bus depot. “This angered the gunman who struck him a sharp blow in the shoulder with the butt of the pistol.
Taking advantage of the situation and using the element of surprise, the driver slammed hard on his brakes, sending the suspect sprawling.”
