NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — An angry man from Staten Island punched an MTA bus driver on his route in lower Manhattan on Saturday, even pulling a knife during the fight. The driver disarmed the suspect and held him until the cops arrived, police and the MTA confirmed.
The MTA said that, based on witness statements and video, the perpetrator “became enraged” when the M15 bus was stuck in traffic at Madison and Catherine Streets. He began “yelling and cursing at the bus driver for not driving fast enough.”
The bus arrived at its downtown terminal at about 12:10 p.m., and the attacker punched the 58-year-old bus driver, the MTA said.
The bus driver began to defend himself, and a fight ensued. At one point, the suspect even pulled a knife out, though the bus driver was able to disarm the assailant and hold him until police arrived.
As seen in video of the incident obtained by the New York Post, the attacker continued to shout “Let me go!” as the bus driver held him down. The driver responds that the police are on their way.
The bus driver suffered injuries to his face requiring hospital treatment, the MTA said.
Police said that Rashon Eagle, 43, of Staten Island, was arrested and charged with assault, criminal obstruction of breathing and menacing.
The investigation is in its early stages and will be conducted by the NYPD.
“It is lunacy for anyone to take out frustration for traffic congestion on a transit employee just trying to drive New Yorkers where they need to go … It's now up to prosecutors to deliver justice with serious charges and maximum consequences,” the MTA said.