MILWAUKEE, Wis. – A Milwaukee County Transit System bus driver is out of the hospital after they were attacked while on the job.
Police say the incident happened Friday in Milwaukee near 32nd and Florist, where the suspect forced his way onto the bus and battered the driver.
The driver is a 72-year-old, 12-year veteran of MCTS who police say received multiple stitches to his forehead and suffered black eyes. The driver was transported to the hospital for medical evaluation and was released the same day, according to MCTS.
“We at MCTS are alarmed about a recent assault against one of our bus operators. The safety of our operators and passengers is our highest priority. Despite our many safety measures, bus operators may face some of the same challenges affecting our broader community, as was the case in the incident that occurred on Friday, July 18th, when a bus operator was assaulted by an individual,” an MCTS spokesperson said in a statement to WTMJ.
The assault comes amid contract negotiations between MCTS and the bus drivers’ union, which the same day as the assault rejected a one-year contract offer from transit officials and earlier this month voted to authorize a strike.
In a statement, an MCTS spokesperson says footage of the incident has been shared with police, and that there were no other passengers on board the bus at the time of the attack.
“We remain committed to protecting our operators and riders and will continue to evaluate and strengthen our safety protocols as needed,” said the MCTS spokesperson.
Milwaukee Police have not commented on whether the assault suspect is in custody.
