Boy, 13, takes bus

Press, 19 April 1979, Page 6

Boy, 13, takes bus

PA Auckland An Auckland Regional Authority Mercedes bus careered through the streets of Auckland last evening — in the hands of a bov, aged 13. The adventure ended rather suddenly in Otahuhu just before 10 p.m.. when the boy faltered at the wheel. The bus, valued at $lOO,OOO, was in collision With a car, climbed on to the pavement, and crashed into a factory. The boy jumped out and ran away. Otahuhu police patrols moved into the area, and after a brief search found the runaway driver hiding in an alley about 100 m from the disabled bus.

The boy, who was still being questioned by police officers late last evening, took the bus from its Freemans Bay depot earlier in the evening. The legitimate driver had called into the depot for a meal break, leaving the keys in the vehicle.