PSTA drivers and deputies are searching for a man who they say punched a bus driver on Tuesday and ran. The incident also has the bus agency rethinking their safety plan.
- PSTA employee David Traylor attacked on June 12
- Surveillance video shows attack unprovoked
- Image of attacker caught on camera
PSTA employee David Traylor said he’s been driving buses for four years with incidents here and there involving passengers, but nothing serious until this Tuesday when a rider attacked him.
“He hit me three times in the face, on the ears and it was not a lot of fun,” Traylor explained.
He said the attack was unprovoked, and PSTA officials said the surveillance video backs up Traylor’s story.
“I said, 'I just need you to sit down, because I can’t drive the bus with you up front.' He goes, 'well I have to pay.' And I said, 'Okay, well, please pay and have a seat so we can get going,' and at that point he decided to punch me out,” Traylor said.
Traylor said the suspect then fled the bus, but not before an image of him was captured on the bus’s security cameras.
Pinellas deputies confirmed they are searching for the accused attacker. PSTA officials said they have put their drivers on alert to call authorities if they spot him.
Traylor said he hopes the man is caught, and hopes this sends a message to stop these attacks on transit employees.
“It’s more frequent than we would like, for sure," Traylor said. "And it is, from what I understand, a felony to attack a bus driver, and PSTA takes it seriously and they prosecute, so when and if we catch him I’m sure he will be prosecuted."
PSTA released the statement following that incident:
"At PSTA, we condemn the actions of this individual and anyone who believes they have the right to physically assault another human. As such, effective immediately, PSTA will work cooperatively with the police department to prosecute the assailant, once captured, to the fullest extent of the law.
Additionally, we will be launching a fast-tracked pilot program to test out several models of driver barriers and partitions inside PSTA buses to better protect drivers from outside occurrences. Staff will be working with drivers to evaluate a number of on-board safety guards during this pilot phase."