Nation : Bus Thief Has Wild Ride; 15 Hurt

A man stole a public bus from a depot today and went on a wild 45-minute rush-hour joy ride through three counties, causing a multitude of wrecks that injured at least 15 people before crashing into a cheese shop.

Authorities said the unidentified driver of the bus was among those hospitalized but the extent of his injuries was not known. The bus was empty when it was stolen from the depot. The joy ride caused several rush-hour accidents, one of which injured Middletown Township police officer Lee Alexander, 40. At least 14 other people were injured as the bus careened through Northeast Philadelphia and two suburbs.