NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- A bus driver was beaten and doused in lighter fluid by a passenger after he took a bus out of service in Brooklyn, police said Tuesday as they released a photo of the suspect.
The 57-year-old MTA driver was on-duty and operating a southbound B44 bus when he was attacked at 6 p.m. Saturday in Crown Heights.
Police said it all started when the driver announced the bus was going out of service and that all passengers would need to get off the bus.
When he noticed one passenger remained on the bus, he offered him assistance.
That's when the passenger repeatedly punched him and poured a bottle of lighter fluid all over him, police said. The attacker then fled the bus on foot.
EMS transported the driver to NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, where he was listed in stable condition.
"Targeting a bus operator with violence is beyond outrageous because attacks on public servants are attacks on all of us," said Frank Annicaro, the senior vice president of the NYC Transit Department of Buses.
"When the NYPD catches this unhinged criminal—and they will—prosecutors should ensure he faces maximum consequences under the law," Annicaro said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
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