Driver of METROLift carjacked while patient on board speaks to KPRC

HOUSTON – The METROLift driver kicked off her bus during a daring carjacking said she fought the man who forced his way on board until she was forced to let go of the steering wheel.

"I was worried," said Rosezena Landcraft. "I was really worried about the client that was on the bus, really worried about him."

Landcraft said she was behind the wheel of the bus, driving on the feeder to 59, near Polk Street, on Monday, when she saw a man seemingly flagging down traffic.

"He came out of nowhere. He came across the freeway."

Kelvin Benton, 47, has been charged with carjacking Landcraft.  Benton appeared before a judge Wednesday in Magistrate Court.

Benton was not armed, but managed to force his way onto the bus and forced Landcraft off. He even threw himself onto the hood, according to court documents.

Landcraft said she does not remember much from her scuffle with Benton, or even how he got on the bus.

"I just remember standing one foot on the door and just fighting this guy," she said.

Landcraft called 911 and police were able to use GPS tracking to locate the bus and follow it.

Houston TranStar cameras captured part of the chase along I-45 near Hogan and it eventually ended when the suspect crashed the bus into a fire hydrant in the median of Heights Boulevard near I-10.

One passenger was on board the bus when it all happened.

Hector Araujo was sitting in his wheelchair in the back of the lift bus on his way home from dialysis treatment. He told KPRC the experience was scary.

"Yeah, because he (threw) out the driver through the front door," Araujo said.

Paramedics took Araujo to the hospital to be checked out because he has a history of heart problems.

Benton, 47, is charged with evading arrest and robbery with bodily injury.

Benton is being held without bond until his next court appearance.