Tour bus driver slashed and stabbed by knife-wielding beggar in NYC

A tour bus driver was slashed and stabbed to death by a knife-wielding beggar who was haggling with his passengers for money in Midtown late Tuesday, police officers said.

The 53-year-old driver parked the double-decker bus on Eighth Avenue near West 42nd Street around 11:40 p.m. when Hector Cruz, 40, approached passengers and begged for money, police said.

The beggar eventually got on the bus and started brandishing a razor blade. Cruz allegedly punched the driver in the face and torso and stabbed him in the chest.

After the attack, he initially fled, but police caught up with him a few blocks away.

The knife-wielding maniac was arrested and charged with assault, threats, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of weapons, harassment, disorderly conduct and loitering, authorities said.

The blade was recovered, police said.

Cruz is “known to the department,” but police could not immediately provide details of his previous arrests.