Victoria bus driver sent to hospital after youths vomit, urinate from upper deck

VANCOUVER – A Victoria bus driver was sent to hospital Saturday night after an ugly incident on a double-decker bus.

A group of intoxicated youth was vomiting and urinating from the upper deck, onto the driver below.

Ben Williams, president of Unifor Local 333, said there were about 40 young people on the upper deck. “There was an incident that happened, there was vomit as well as urine that was on the upper deck and started to leak down to the operator,” he said.

“Definitely we think that there was some provoking of the operator. Even when they were disembarking off the bus, they were mocking the operator and making fun of the operator as they disembarked.”

Victoria Police said they did not receive a call about this incident and reports that they had broken up an altercation and put the youths on the bus to go home are not true. They said they will not be investigating unless the victim comes forward with a complaint.

“What it has to do with is people have to act civilized,” said Williams. “Riding a transit bus is a privilege, it’s not a right and unfortunately some people think it’s their right to do whatever they want on a transit bus.”

The driver had to undergo blood tests and have her eyes flushed due to the vomit and urine. The liquid was also on her hair and clothing.

It is not known when she will return to work.

“For somebody to go through something like that, especially when you have 40 individuals acting as unruly as they were,” said Williams.

“There’s no way anyone should have to go through something like that while they’re at work.”