The bus doors hiss open on a Los Angeles street. Inside, a young man lies curled on the floor near the rear, wearing just a t-shirt and dark underwear. His body barely moves. A few feet away, a Metro-affiliated worker in a safety vest sits at a nearby stop, eyes locked on her phone.
A shaky recording, just under a minute long and filmed vertically, spread fast after appearing on X. Posted by @ExxAlerts on May 13, 2026, it seemed real from the start. Taken from @dannystolo’s Instagram, the footage holds on a man who barely moves just tiny twitches now and then. Later, emergency crews show up, moving slow but sure. With help from a flat sheet, they slide him onto a stretcher. Into the ambulance he goes, out of view.
Viewers flooded the post with anger. Many accused the worker of “doing nothing” as the passenger appeared heavily intoxicated or overdosing. Comments called the man a “zombie,” a term tied to the sedative effects of fentanyl and xylazine (“tranq”) mixtures flooding LA streets.
Unfortunately, this video continues an unfortunate trend. The city of Los Angeles is currently struggling with an overt issue of fentanyl and xylazine use. Incidents involving people under the influence have become more common.
A tweet from X.
The man’s identity and exact medical condition remain unknown. No official Metro statement has addressed this specific incident, and while the video appears authentic and unedited, it lacks full independent verification through police reports.
Metro workers face strict protocols. They are generally instructed not to physically intervene in suspected overdoses due to risks like fentanyl skin absorption, needles, unpredictable behavior, and liability. Their role centers on calling for professional help which happened here as responders arrived.
Los Angeles County reported 3,137 drug-related overdose deaths in 2023. Numbers dropped sharply to 2,438 in 2024 a 22% decline with fentanyl deaths falling 37%. Despite progress from naloxone distribution and treatment efforts, public scenes of impairment persist.
Homelessness intersects heavily. In recent years, roughly two-thirds of deaths among unhoused people in LA County linked to drugs. Metro has seen rising complaints about crime and drug incidents, though the agency reported declines in violent crime (6.7%) and societal crimes (33%) in 2025.
Riders voice real fears about safety. With the 2028 Olympics approaching, pressure mounts on city leaders, including Mayor Karen Bass, to address visible disorder on transit and streets.
The term “zombie” spreads widely online but draws criticism from health experts and advocates who call it dehumanizing. It reduces complex addiction and mental health issues to a spectacle.
A single clip tells the story pressure building, rules ignored, people pushed too far. Officers walk the platforms more often now, paired with guides in bright vests. Still, operators gather to speak up about threats they face each shift. What was meant to protect feels stretched thin under daily strain.
A sudden look at LA shows struggles laid bare drugs, people without homes, dangers on buses all seen by everyone just before the city faces worldwide attention.
