HSR driver accused of grabbing passenger by hair
Two sides to this story, says union
The city is investigating after an HSR driver was captured in a photo allegedly grabbing a customer by the hair Tuesday.
“We are aware of the incident that took place yesterday between an HSR operator and one of our customers and are currently investigating the matter,” city spokesperson Jasmine Graham said Wednesday.
Graham said staff are speaking to witnesses and ensuring they have all the facts before commenting further. “We will look to provide more information once the investigation is completed.”
The photo taken by fellow passenger Sierra Johnson shows a female bus driver holding another woman by the hair. It was posted on Facebook.
Johnson told The Spectator the incident began on the Route 23 Upper Gage bus after a girl in front of her didn’t have photo identification with her student bus pass.
Johnson, 19, who was with her one-year-old son, said she didn’t have photo ID with her pass either, and after a disagreement, she was told to put 30 cents in the fare box.
The female driver began to then yell at her to “sit the (expletive) down,” Johnson said.
Johnson said she was offended and called HSR to complain, when the driver yelled at her to get off the phone. In the heat of the moment, the driver missed a stop, Johnson alleges.
Then the driver stopped, got off the bus and was seen on her phone, she said.
The girl without photo ID who had been in front of her then got off the bus, allegedly telling the driver, “Are you serious? I’m going to be late for work.”
And that’s when Johnson alleges the driver grabbed the girl by the hair and held her. She alleges the girl was repeatedly saying, “Let go of me, please.”
Regular Route 23 rider Marissa McConnell said she was on the bus and witnessed the event.
“I don’t think any part of that was right. I work at two jobs with the public and you would never lay your hands on someone.”
Amalgamated Transit Union local 107 president Eric Tuck said police have been called because the driver was allegedly assaulted during the incident.
Police spokesperson Const. Claus Wagner said police weren’t called to the scene, but couldn’t confirm whether the driver reported the incident after the fact.
Tuck said there was little he could say amid the ongoing investigations, but noted there is another side to the story. “Social media unfortunately doesn’t tell both sides of the story,” he said.
“A picture may paint one story, but the reality is completely different.”