Man lights TTC bus on fire.

[eightysbaby]

It was a terrifying commute for some TTC riders on Wednesday.

Police believe arson is to blame for a fire that destroyed a bus and shook up early-morning passengers.

The blaze broke out on board the vehicle around 2:45am near Yonge and Bloor streets, shutting down Yonge Street from Bloor to Cumberland as firefighters battled the flames.

But it wasn't a mechanical issue. Instead, officials allege that it was a passenger that sparked the fire, provoked by an incident that happened outside.

Police allege that the suspect (pictured below) was waiting at a bus stop. He asked a woman for a cigarette and when she refused, he punched her in the face.

He then boarded the bus, where several witnesses and the victim confronted him.

He then allegedly moved to the back of the bus, emptied his knapsack on the seats, covered it in some sort of flammable liquid, and lit it.

By 3am, the fire was out - and the suspect had fled. Police believe he hailed a Beck taxi and are looking to speak with the driver.

Incredibly, no one was seriously injured.

The woman who had been punched was treated at the scene and did not need to go the hospital.

As for the bus, the $700,000 hybrid is likely a write-off.

"Obviously safety is one of our biggest concerns," acknowledged TTC chair Adam Giambrone.

"But I'm reassured when we work with Toronto Police that they are able to make sure that our system is safe. Hopefully they'll be able to prosecute the people that are responsible."

Police are looking at several surveillance videos taken from the scene.

If you saw anything, call police 416-808-5304 or Crime Stoppers 416-222-TIPS (8477).

http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/56461--arson-suspected-in-ttc-bus-fire

Click the link to watch the video of how it happened.

 

[DYNAMICS]

Saw that !+!@ today, just another crazy story to add of !+!@ that happens on that Yonge Blue Line @ night.


My man has a Gas Can with him, like who does that?

 

[quiickz]

 

[freshsince1982]

 

[jbv1]

Hhhmmm.... "B**tch did not gimme a smoke so Imma' gon light this bus up & endanger innocent people's lives"... When I escape not noticingI've been caught on camera I'll hail a Beck Taxi & spend more money on cab fare.

Great. mentality

 

[mcraptor]

Saw the vid on CP24

at least no one got hurt

 

[DYNAMICS]

They caught the dude the same morning, apparently after the Bus incident he tried to rob someone of their car and got into a fight. It was when someone calledin giving Police his name after seeing his Picture on the News that Officers realized the man they were looking for they had just arrested.

 

[5tan]

Looks like I'll be safe tomorrow night....

 

[brrraptors]

sounds like dude isn't all there up there

how you gonna let some guy thats just punched a woman over a cigarette just get on bus and not have the cops called already

 

[fenixconnexion.]

damn, it was one of the new buses it seems like

 

[luis og13s]

I heard about this, that guys messed. who lights up a damn ttc bus

 

[ac4three]

What a maniac...