A bus trip from Las Cruces to El Paso became hectic Thursday evening when a passenger allegedly grabbed the steering wheel, driving the bus into the median on I-10 and into oncoming traffic before colliding, authorities said.
Aroni Alberto Diaz, a 24-year-old Las Cruces resident, was detained on I-10 Thursday and charged with aggravated assault and battery, according to Dona Ana County prison records.
According to the arrest record, the allegations arise from a crash reported at 7:05 p.m. Thursday on I-10 near milepost 149, which stopped all lanes.
A bus driver informed New Mexico State Police detectives that Diaz had been acting “combatively” with employees at the Greyhound City Bus Station on 300 W. Lohman Ave. in Las Cruces.
The driver stated that as the bus began moving east on I-10 toward El Paso, Diaz, who sat in the first row across from the driver, began “acting weird, mumbling,” and inquired whether they were headed to El Paso before later inquiring whether they were going to Juarez.
The driver stated that he told Diaz, “No, I’m going to downtown El Paso.” The driver told detectives Diaz and then told them to call the El Paso Police Department. When the driver refused, Diaz reportedly screamed, jumped over him, and grabbed the steering wheel.
The driver informed authorities that Diaz pulled the wheel, forcing the bus to jump the wire median and collide with oncoming traffic. The driver claimed he was able to put the bus in neutral and deploy the emergency brake to stop it.
After the bus came to a stop, the driver stated that a passenger got in to assist in pulling Diaz off him and away from the wheel. Diaz then allegedly took out a knife, pushed open the bus doors, and climbed out. The driver told authorities that he closed the doors as soon as Diaz exited.
In the report, an investigator asked the driver if he feared for his life. The driver responded:
F*** yes.
Diaz had already been arrested by Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office deputies when the state police investigator arrived, according to the report.
The investigator later contacted Diaz, who allegedly stated that he was afraid because he feared he was going to be dismembered and that if someone wanted to take his organs, they would have to kill him, according to the report. Diaz also allegedly refused to be evaluated by a medic.
There were no injuries recorded.
KINT posted video from inside the bus, revealing moments from the incident as filmed by passengers.
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