Pursuit of Woman In Stolen Las Vegas Shuttle Bus Ends In Barricade
INCIDENT DATE/TIME: 10-26-2023 | 2:00 AM – 7:00 AM
LOCATION: US-93 & AZ-71
CITY: Congress
DETAILS:
According to a Sergeant with the Arizona Department of Public Safety on scene:
AZ DPS troopers attempted to stop a woman behind the wheel of a shuttle bus that was stolen out of Las Vegas traveling south on US-93 near Wikieup Arizona shortly after 2:00 AM.
The woman refused to yield and troopers initiated a pursuit.
The pursuit fluctuated speeds between 80 and 95 miles an hour as the woman drove the large shuttle bus recklessly, at times traveling wrong-way into opposing lanes.
Additional troopers and Wickenburg Police units staged ahead of the pursuit and deployed stop sticks.
The woman lost control of the shuttle while transitioning from US-93 to AZ-71, crashing off the roadway into the desert at approximately 3:10 AM, 60 miles after the start of the pursuit.
Troopers and Wickenburg officers issued commands to the suspect but the woman refused to comply.
Troopers established a hard closure for AZ-71 spanning between Congress AZ and the US-93 with assistance from Yavapai County Sheriff Deputies.
A barricade situation was established and AZDPS SWAT was mobilized.
Several tactical units and armored vehicles responded from the Phoenix Metro area and established a command post on scene.
AZ DPS “Ranger 1” helicopter responded from Phoenix to assist.
Tactical units continued to issue verbal commands throughout the early morning hours however the suspect remained barricaded.
At approximately 5:50 AM AZ DPS SWAT approached the shuttle and attached a tow rope to the rear bumper.
SWAT then utilized an armored Lenco Bearcat to pull the shuttle closer to the road with the tow strap.
SWAT then deployed less lethal munitions and detonated a small explosive device to breach the side of the shuttle.
The adult female suspect was taken into custody a short time later.
The woman was transported to a local hospital by paramedics as a precaution.
She faces multiple charges including felony flight and vehicle theft.
AZ-71 was reopened shortly before 7:00 AM.
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