Bus driver stabs unruly OR passenger along I-84 after kicking him out

A man was airlifted to a Richland, Wash., hospital after he was stabbed by a bus driver when he became unruly on a charter bus near Umatilla, Ore.

The confrontation stopped westbound traffic on busy Interstate 84 on Monday afternoon while the medical helicopter landed on the highway to fly the suspect to the Tri-Cities and an ambulance could take the injured bus driver to a Hermiston hospital.

Oregon State Police say the MTR Western bus was heading west along Interstate 84 when Noel A. Rodriguez, 24, allegedly attacked another passenger on the bus.

The driver stopped and ordered Rodriguez to get out.

A witness said in a Facebook post that two others on the bus helped the driver force Rodriguez off the bus west of the I-84 interchange with Interstate 82, about 30 miles south of the Tri-Cities.

Rodriguez then tried to get inside a luggage storage compartment under the bus. The driver climbed out to confront him, and he was tackled, said police.

Rodriguez then began punching him in the head, said investigators.

“While still being struck, the driver pulled out a punch knife and stabbed the suspect,” Oregon State Police said.

Police and medical responders arrived soon after, and Rodriguez was flown to Kadlec Regional Medical Center. The Boardman Fire Rescue District reported that he was in serious condition.

The bus driver was taken to Good Shepherd Hospital in Hermiston.

This story was originally published August 5, 2025 at 4:12 PM.