Terrifying moment passenger grabbed steering wheel from bus driver in rush hour traffic

This is the terrifying moment a passenger grabbed the steering wheel from a bus driver in rush hour traffic before being wrestled to the ground by an off-duty cop.

Earl Haye, 48, almost caused the double-decker to crash when he tried to take control of the bus in Derby Road, Nottingham.

Haye also went on a rampage trying to get into people’s cars and at one point he jumped onto a car and punched through the windscreen.

Haye was handed a suspended prison sentence

He then got into the back of another car that was slowly moving along before being pulled out by police.

Haye, of St Ann’s, Nottingham went on to assault four police officers as they wrestled him to the ground.

He admitted three counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker, common assault of an emergency worker, two counts of causing criminal damage and causing danger to road users.

But he walked free after he was handed a 13 month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months at Nottingham Crown Court.

The court heard Haye boarded the bus at 7.15am on 1 November last year and began shouting and swearing at the driver.

His erratic behaviour was seen by an off-duty sergeant sat at the back of the bus, who then identified himself to Haye as a police officer.

Haye ran off into busy traffic

Sergeant Graham Whitt, escorted Haye off the bus, but he then boarded a second bus and grabbed hold of the steering wheel.

CCTV showed him place both hands on the wheel and attempt to steer it before he jumped off the bus and ran into busy traffic.

Sgt Whitt again jumped into action when he saw Haye approach a woman’s car and try to get in.

He then jumped onto a Peugeot 107 before punching and smashing its windscreen.

With police backup on the way, Sgt Whitt suffered a torn ligament in his finger as he battled to apprehend Haye.

Haye went on to assault three other police officers once back up arrived. Two were bitten on the arm, while another was spat at.

A spit hood was then placed over his head to stop him biting or spitting on officers again.

People watched with ‘looks of terror’ on their faces

Sgt Whitt – whose was treated in hospital for his fractured finger after the incident – said he and his colleagues were relieved Haye had been brought to justice.

Recalling the incident, he said: “Something that will stay in my mind for longer than the physical pain is the genuine looks of terror in the faces of members of the public, who by no fault of their own, were involved and forced to watch Haye’s rampage.

“I’m just glad I was in a position to intervene and help prevent a very serious incident.

“As it was, I suffered an injury to my finger. That’s a far better outcome.”

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cooper, of Nottinghamshire Police, said after the case: “This was an appalling incident that could have been worse had it not been for brave actions of Graham and his colleagues.

“Three police constables swiftly arrived on scene to help detain the man and, regrettably were assaulted.

“We have repeatedly stressed that this is not part of the job and any assault on emergency workers – physical or verbal - will be treated as a crime and dealt with accordingly.

“The safety and welfare of our officers is of great importance and the officers involved in this incident have been given the appropriate support by the force.”

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