Night Of The Bus

 This Tragic Story Ends In Kentucky but Begins Just over the Border in Cincinnati Ohio, On A Dark Saturday Night in July back in 1953.His Name was Elbert Ashton Thomas 29 [AKA Baby Brother] of Olympia KY . He had been working as A helper to the Greyhound Bus Mechanics at the Bus Stop Garage In Cincinnati. In The Parking area Was a New $38,000 Greyhound bus that had returned from a Lexington- Cincinnati Trip.It was sitting alone after being serviced ,washed and fueled and made ready for another run .At about Midnight For reasons never made clear, Elbert entered the empty vehicle and drove it away unnoticed.

Elbert drove the Bus south into KY through Cynthiana and Paris and Then on U.S 60 to Owingsville .Just a few more miles and he was Home in Olympia, and As it turns out this was to be the last stop for this Bus….. Pretty much Forever.

A C&O Diesel Engine of the Type that Hit The Bus 

 

 

  Of all places Elbert abandoned the Greyhound Bus in the middle of Olympia right across the Railroad tracks and walked away. It was not long before an East bound C&O Train came along, Unable to stop at the crossing it burst right through the bus cutting it in two. There is no record of anyone being hurt but Elbert was subsequently charged and arrested for the theft of the bus And Extradited to Ohio.