A Kelowna bus driver is recovering after a violent assault early Tuesday morning.
“I’m nonetheless shocked,” stated Scott Lovell, a consultant of the driving force’s union, the Amalgamated Transit Union Native 1722. “It’s very contemporary.”
The sufferer is a 70-year-old man with a long time of expertise. He was despatched to hospital with some vital accidents.
“He has a damaged nostril, broken hip, presumably some ribs,” Lovell informed International Information.
The incident unfolded on the Queensway Bus Alternate in downtown Kelowna at round 6:30 a.m.
In response to the union, a person, believed to be experiencing homelessness, boarded a bus.
Nonetheless, when the feminine bus driver informed him to not use the bus as a spot to sleep, he grew to become agitated.
Involved, the sufferer, who was close by intervened to assist and that’s when he was attacked.
“We aren’t protected very nicely,” Lovell stated. “We’re undermanned, understaffed. With every part occurring in our metropolis, from psychological well being points to the quantity of homeless, the bus is an effective, heat place for these individuals to sleep.”
The assault occurred on the identical day a union govt, overseeing all of Western Canada, was on the town.
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John Callahan stated extra must be completed to extend security for drivers.
“Proper throughout the nation, bus operators face assaults each day, and it’s nearly grow to be the norm, however it shouldn’t be. It ought to by no means be the norm,” stated Callahan, vice-president for the Amalgamated Transit Union Worldwide.
“Now we have to take a look at coaching for bus operators, and that being de-escalation coaching. And sadly, bus operators aren’t social employees, however we can provide them some sort of coaching to get a greater understanding of parents they’re having to take care of each day.”
In an electronic mail to International Information, BC Transit said, “Our ideas are with the sufferer of this assault, and the group is supporting the Kelowna RCMP.”
The transit company added that its high precedence is security and that it has plenty of security measures in place to maintain each passengers and drivers secure.
These measures embrace closed-circuit tv cameras on buses, operator emergency notification protocols and partnerships with first responders resembling police, fireplace and ambulance.
Police stated they did arrest a suspect however he has since been launched.
“He’s an ideal instance of what a bus driver must be for the town of Kelowna, he’s what we deserve and he doesn’t deserve that,” Lovell stated.
RCMP stated the investigation is ongoing.
© 2025 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
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