VANCOUVER – A Burnaby bus driver may face assault charges following an incident with a passenger on Tuesday.
Rebecca Burnette, a witness who was on the bus, tells Global News that the incident happened around 7 a.m. on Tuesday on the 97 B-Line bus. It left the Lougheed SkyTrain Station at full capacity when the young man ran up and knocked on the door to get in. The bus was full so it drove away but the passenger ran after the bus and kicked the door.
Burnette says that is when the bus driver pulled over and assaulted the young man. She then called 9-1-1.
However, a very different story is emerging from the union that represents the driver.
Unifor spokesperson Nathan Woods says the would-be passenger bashed the bus with his skateboard, breaking some glass on the doors.
According to him, the driver used a bear hug to take down the 20-year old and there was no violence.
The union added the driver has 26 years on the job and thought he was doing the right thing.
Transit Police spokesperson Anne Drennan says the young man is being investigated by Transit Police for mischief as he smashed his skateboard against the window.
Burnaby RCMP would not release the name of the bus driver but said the driver was arrested and later released.
— with files from Catherine Urquhart
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