LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – A Dash bus driver in South Los Angeles was viciously attacked by a homeless woman on a recent Sunday, sparking concerns about the safety of transit operators in the area. This incident occurred just two days after a “sick out” staged by Metro transit operators due to ongoing safety issues.
The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the attack, which took place at an intersection in South-Central Avenue and Jefferson Boulevard. Reports indicate that the homeless woman assaulted the driver after refusing to pay for a ride.
Video footage of the incident captured a violent struggle between the female bus operator and the homeless woman, who managed to pull the driver, who was separated by a plexiglass barrier, off the bus and onto the sidewalk. The driver fought back as the attack continued, with the homeless woman pulling on the bus operator’s uniform and landing at least one blow to her face.
After several intense minutes, the bus operator was able to regain control, re-enter her vehicle, and drive away, leaving the homeless woman behind. The recent “sick out” by the L.A. County Metropolitan Transit Authority on May 3 was in response to a series of violent and even deadly attacks on bus and train operators and passengers.
One such incident involved a Metro train passenger who was fatally stabbed on their way home from work in Studio City on April 22, with the attacker identified as a transient. In a separate incident, a bus driver was stabbed by a passenger in Willowbrook, and a transient hijacked a Metro bus armed with an airsoft gun in downtown Los Angeles in March.
The safety concerns have led to one member of the LA Metro board expressing fear about riding the bus alone. Dash buses, operated by the L.A. Department of Transportation, are a vital mode of transport in the city, with affordable fares and services covering 27 neighborhoods.
Following the recent attack on the bus driver by the homeless woman, it is unclear if the driver sustained any serious injuries or if she required hospital evaluation. The female suspect was taken into custody by the police, although the charges she may face are currently unknown. The incident underscores the ongoing safety challenges faced by transit operators and passengers in Los Angeles.