Convicted Murderer Stabs Prison Bus Driver & Escapes As Police Now Frantically Searching In East Texas

perezhilton.com:

A convicted murderer in Texas has escaped from a prison transport bus in the eastern part of the state. Now, authorities in the area around the town of Centerville are frantically searching for him. Gonzalo Lopez, a 46-year-old inmate serving a life sentence for capital murder out of Hidalgo County, was being transported on a prison bus on Thursday afternoon when he allegedly stabbed the driver, forced the bus off the road, and fled on foot. Related: Alabama Prison Break Couple Got Caught — And You Won’t Believe How The Chase Ended! According to multiple media reports from the Lone Star State, Lopez (pictured above) had been shackled in the back of a bus that was transporting prisoners to medical appointments in Leon County.

At some point around 1:20 p.m. local time, the man somehow was able to get out of his restraints, and he rushed to the front of the bus.

Once there, authorities report that he allegedly stabbed or slashed the driver in the hand with an unknown object, and attempted to take the driver’s gun.

Lopez was unsuccessful in getting the weapon, but he ran off from the scene once the bus careened off the road. There was reportedly at least one other armed corrections officers on the bus, as well, according to KHOU 11 News and other local media outlets.