‘Sorry, I was drunk’: Court docs detail man’s alleged crash into StarTran bus

A Lincoln man accused of stealing a city vehicle and crashing it into a StarTran bus appeared in court Thursday. 

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A Lincoln man accused of stealing a city vehicle and crashing it into a StarTran bus appeared in court Thursday.

A judge set bond for 24-year-old Jacob Jones at $7,500.

Police say Jones stole a city-owned SUV near 10th and N. St. and was under the influence of alcohol when he crashed it into the bus a short time later.

Jones attempted to run from the scene but was caught by the bus driver who held him down for several minutes until officers arrived, police said.

The driver, 43-year-old Ryan Schmidt, said he and his coworkers take the safety of their passengers and the Lincoln community seriously.

“I was happy to be able to help out where I could,” he said in a statement. “I hope this experience will motivate the individual to make more positive decisions in the future.”

While being held down, Jones told Schmidt, “Sorry, I was drunk and stole the vehicle from downtown,” according to an arrest affidavit. He later told officers he was “trying to get home,” according to the document.

Jones is scheduled to appear in court again next month for on a felony theft charge.