Metro News Release

For immediate release: February 15, 2007

Metrobus operator saves distressed passenger

While driving the B2 Bladensburg Road—Anacostia Line earlier this month, Metrobus Operator Reginald Johnson helped a distressed passenger who was stabbing himself on board the bus.

Around 8 p.m. on Feb. 1, passengers on the Anacostia-bound B2 bus alerted Johnson about a man wielding a knife. Johnson looked in the rear view mirror and saw that the passenger seated behind the driver’s seat appeared to be stabbing himself in the chest area. Johnson safely pulled the bus over at its stop at DC General Hospital and called the Metrobus Operations Control Center to request help. He then asked the 10 or so passengers to exit the bus to get them out of a potentially dangerous situation.

With the other passengers safely off the bus, Johnson approached the man, talked with him to try to calm him and asked him for the knife. The man handed the knife over and spoke of his troubled life. As they continued to talk, the man grew agitated and wanted his knife back. He told Johnson he wanted to kill himself. Johnson remained calm and stayed with the man until the Metro Transit Police and an ambulance arrived. The man was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his non-life-threatening stab wounds.

Around 8:30 p.m., after the man was taken to the hospital, Johnson was able to continue the bus route to Anacostia.

Johnson, who works out of the Bladensburg Metrobus Division and has been employed with Metro since 2004, called the incident “inspiring and humbling.” He also said he would not advise anyone to do what he did as it could have turned into a dangerous situation, but he is glad he was able to stop the man from seriously harming himself and was able to get him help.

News release issued at 12:00 am, February 15, 2007.