DETROIT (WXYZ) — DDOT bus drivers say they're scared after recent attacks. One driver has even taken to social media, saying she's concerned for her safety.
Transit police say they are investigating the string of recent attacks and that they're drivers shouldn't have to work in fear.
Several attacks have been reported in the last week involving verbal and physical assaults. Passengers say drivers shouldn’t have to fear for their safety
“They have to worry about not making it home safe,” says passenger Daitoris Whitley. ”That’s messed up.”
Transit Police Chief Ricky Brown says they are aware of incidents and are currently investigating the most recent report, which happened Wednesday.
“Verbal and then turned physical and that information. Because it’s still under investigation I don’t want to go into too much detail,” he says.
Passengers we spoke to say they’ve seen bus drivers assaulted firsthand.
“They’re on that bus route all day, all night. You never know. You get people who get mad and come back and you have to deal with that too,” one told us.
One driver took to social media to describe a recent attack, saying she was jumped by a man after he forced his way onto her bus. She says she had to defend herself.
The attack left her with several injuries and was also caught on camera.
“The video provided by our DDOT video surveillance was able to capture a good picture of the individual, that information has been turned over to the 12th Precinct for investigation and follow up,” says Brown.
Brown says drivers shouldn't worry about being harassed or assaulted while on the job and they will get to the bottom of this and make sure drivers are safe while at work.
“We take the assaults of our drivers very seriously,” he says. “But one assault is one too many.”
Police says that if you see a bus driver being assaulted, you should call them right away.
