BOSTON (WHDH) - A man accused of stealing a cab in Boston early Wednesday morning jumped into the Fort Point Channel after crashing the vehicle, authorities said.
Officers conducting a traffic stop in the area of 294 Congress St. were approached by a frantic witness who said a person had just jumped off of the Fort Point Bridge around 2:45 a.m.
The officers, along with the Boston Police Harbor Patrol Unit, EMTs and firefighters, began searching the area when they found 29-year-old William Thoresen of Shirley and pulled him from the water, police said.
He was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Prior to jumping into the water, police say Thoresen stole a cab after forcing the driver out of the vehicle. He then allegedly put the cab in reverse and struck the victim with the still opened taxi door before putting it into drive and hitting another cab that was stopped in front of it.
Thoresen then drove the stolen cab to the bridge where he got out of the vehicle and jumped off the eastern side railing, according to police.
The victim reportedly declined medical attention.
A preliminary investigation also revealed that Thoresen had broken into a building located at 201 South St. and sprayed a fire extinguisher inside before fleeing the area on foot and stealing the cab, police said.
Thoresen, who remains hospitalized, will appear in Boston Municipal Court to face multiple charges, including carjacking, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, breaking and entering, two counts of willful and malicious destruction of property, and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident causing personal injury.
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