Man Arrested After Allegedly Stealing Van with Disabled Passenger Inside and Crashing into Multiple Cars in Boston Tunnel

Authorities arrested a 34-year-old man on Wednesday afternoon after he allegedly stole a van with a disabled passenger inside and later crashed into multiple cars in the O’Neill Tunnel in Boston while attempting to evade police. The incident began around 3:30 p.m. when an MBTA driver parked the van carrying a disabled woman near 2 Elm St. in Woburn and left the keys in the ignition, according to Transit Police. The suspect then entered the van and drove towards Boston with the passenger still inside.

The disabled passenger managed to call 911 for help, alerting Transit Police to the alleged theft at 3:42 p.m. A State Police trooper spotted the van in the O’Neill Tunnel shortly after and attempted to stop it. However, the suspect crashed the van into multiple cars within the tunnel, according to State Police. At 3:54 p.m., the van was found at Mercantile Street and Surface Road in Boston.

In an attempt to evade police, the suspect ran into the Bostonian Hotel. Troopers conducted a search and eventually located the suspect hiding in a function room. The trooper arrested the man and handed him over to Transit Police. The disabled passenger sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident and was transported to a hospital. No other individuals were injured in the crashes, although three cars were damaged.