Ep 16. On A Dark, Deserted Highway

On A Dark, Deserted Highway is the sixteenth episode of the thirty-first season of Dateline. The episode follows the story of the murder of 27-year-old Tim McLean, a young man who was tragically killed by a complete stranger on a Greyhound bus in Canada.

In July of 2008, Tim was on his way home from a job in Manitoba, Canada when he boarded a Greyhound bus destined for Winnipeg. All seemed well until the bus made a scheduled pitstop in the small town of Erikson, Manitoba. It was there that a man named Vince Li boarded the bus and took a seat next to Tim.

As the bus made its way down the highway, a horror story was unfolding. Suddenly, Li pulled out a large knife and began to repeatedly stab Tim in the neck and chest in a frenzied attack. The rest of the passengers on the bus were in complete shock and disbelief, and the driver was forced to pull over on the deserted highway and evacuate everyone from the bus.

Despite facing overwhelming odds, Tim's fellow passengers were able to quickly organize and keep Li restrained until the authorities arrived. Even more amazingly, Tim was able to stagger off the bus and onto the roadway before eventually succumbing to his injuries.

The following investigation into the incident revealed a startling picture of Vince Li's past. He was found to have a long history of untreated mental health issues and had even been previously hospitalized on several occasions for violent outbursts. Additionally, he had stopped taking his medication just before the attack on Tim McLean.

The case instantly caught national attention in Canada and continues to haunt those who were involved. In this episode of Dateline, viewers will be taken through the tragic events of that fateful night and the aftermath of the murder. The investigation will delve deeper into the life of Vince Li and explore the implications of the seemingly preventable tragedy that occurred that day.

Through interviews with Tim's family, friends, and the passengers who witnessed the attack firsthand, On A Dark, Deserted Highway offers a detailed look at a case that continues to captivate and shock audiences to this day. The episode is a chilling reminder of the importance of getting help for those suffering from mental illness and the devastating human toll that can result when it goes untreated.