Man arrested after allegedly stealing MBTA van with disabled passenger inside and crashing into vehicles in O’Neill Tunnel

Authorities arrested a 34-year-old man Wednesday afternoon after he allegedly stole an MBTA van with a disabled passenger inside and later crashed into a number of vehicles within the O’Neill Tunnel whereas making an attempt to evade police.

Round 3:30 p.m., an MBTA RIDE driver parked a van carrying a disabled girl close to 2 Elm St. in Woburn and acquired out of the van, Transit Police mentioned in a press launch.

Police mentioned they consider the motive force left the keys within the ignition, and a person then acquired within the van and drove in direction of Boston with the passenger nonetheless inside. The passenger responded by calling 911 for assist.

State Police mentioned in an announcement that Transit Police alerted them to the alleged theft at 3:42 p.m. Inside minutes, State Police mentioned, a trooper noticed the van within the O’Neill Tunnel and tried to cease it.

Within the tunnel, the suspect allegedly crashed the van into a number of vehicles, State Police mentioned. At 3:54 p.m., police discovered the automobile at Mercantile Avenue and Floor Street in Boston.

The suspect allegedly tried to evade police by operating into the Bostonian Resort, State Police mentioned. Troopers searched the lodge for the person, and finally noticed him hiding in a perform room.

The trooper arrested the suspect and turned him over to Transit Police. The passenger within the van suffered non-life-threatening accidents throughout the incident and was taken to a hospital, Transit Police mentioned.

Nobody else was injured within the crashes, however three vehicles have been broken, Transit Police mentioned. Police are nonetheless investigating the incident.

No additional data, together with the suspect’s id and motive, has been launched.