Man Attacks Wife on Bus, Is Decapitated in Crash : Fatality: Assailant grabs wheel from his estranged spouse, the driver, and loses control of vehicle, which slams into wall. No passengers are on board.

A man who attacked his estranged wife on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus she was driving was decapitated when he grabbed the wheel and the bus skidded out of control, caromed off a tree and slammed into a brick wall in Compton, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday.

Investigators said Edward Musgrove, 32, apparently had been lying in wait for Troylynn Brown-Musgrove, 31, Monday night at the intersection where she usually stops for a few minutes before beginning her next run.

When Brown-Musgrove parked the empty Line 45 bus at San Pedro Street and Rosecrans Avenue shortly after 9 p.m., “her estranged husband boarded the bus and attacked her,” Deputy Brian Jones said.

“She immediately radioed for assistance and began driving away,” Jones said. “Her husband continued the assault, and while they were struggling he grabbed the wheel, causing her to lose control.”

Jones said the bus traveled about 100 yards before glancing off a tree and crashing into the low brick wall. The impact hurled Musgrove through the shattered door and into the wall, decapitating him and tearing off his left arm, witnesses said.

Elmore Beck, who was working across the street at an auto repair shop, said he ran outside to find the bus--its wheels still spinning and motor running--wedged against the wall, which surrounds another repair shop.

“The lady was running back and forth in the bus screaming, ‘Somebody help me! Somebody’s trying to kill me!’ ” Beck recalled.

Beck said that after helping Brown-Musgrove out of the wrecked bus, he saw her husband’s maimed body sprawled against the base of the wall.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Beck, 23. “I’ve never seen anything like it, and I was in the military.”

Brown-Musgrove was taken to Gardena Memorial Hospital, where it was determined that she was emotionally shaken but not physically injured, Jones said.

After questioning by detectives, she was released.

“Homicide detectives are considering the death accidental,” said sheriff’s Deputy George Ducoulombier.

Detectives said that although Musgrove and his estranged wife had been involved in a domestic dispute, the motive for his attack has not been determined.

MTA officials said he may have been trying to present Brown-Musgrove with some unspecified papers when he attacked her.

The bus driver could not be reached for comment Tuesday. MTA officials said she had taken a day of sick leave.

Times staff writer Richard Simon contributed to this story.