MBTA Bus Driver Beaten By Large Group
BOSTON (CBS) - An MBTA bus driver was allegedly beaten by 15 young men while on his bus route in Dorchester Saturday morning, police say.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mark Katic reports
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The 53-year-old man was driving the Route 16 bus on Columbia Road at Geneva Avenue around 1:15 a.m. when a female passenger began to argue with him over a fare.
"The female threw her pass at the operator. And about the same time, a group of males assembled in front of the bus and would not let the bus proceed forward," MBTA Deputy Police Chief Joseph O'Connor said. "Some members of the group attempted to board the bus, and some did. Other members attempted to pull the operator through the window."
The operator was punched several times before the group fled.
Police say there were no cameras on the bus, but they are looking into any cameras that may exist in the area.
The attack was one of 22 so far this year, compared to 18 for the same time period last year. While the number of attacks is alarming, authorities say there is no pattern.
"This is a very unusual case. When we've seen operators assaulted, generally there is some type of dispute over fare or some type of interaction," O'Connor added. "For a group to act in this manner is highly unusual and we've yet to determine the motive for this crime."
Police are investigating the attack.
The driver was taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries.
