MTA Bus Driver Fends Off Attacker Who Pulled Knife Over Slow Ride: Victim Identified as Rashon Eagle

1. MTA bus driver fends off attacker with knife during slow ride
2. MTA bus driver defends against knife-wielding assailant on slow bus ride.

Accident – Death – Obituary News :

An MTA Bus Driver Fends Off Attacker Over Slow Traffic

An M15 bus arrived at a bus stop on the Upper East Side, where an MTA bus driver demonstrated immense bravery in fending off an attacker who became enraged due to the slow speed of the bus. The incident occurred on Saturday and highlights the challenges faced by bus drivers in New York City.

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The senior vice president in charge of buses at MTA New York City Transit, Frank Annicaro, revealed that the incident unfolded when a man, later identified as 43-year-old Rashon Eagle from Staten Island, became furious with the 58-year-old bus operator for not driving faster. The southbound M15 bus got stuck in traffic, prompting the attacker to yell and curse at the bus operator.

After enduring the verbal assault, the bus driver arrived at the South Ferry terminal just after noon. It was at this point that the assailant physically attacked the driver, punching and choking him. In response, the driver valiantly defended himself, and in the scuffle, the attacker pulled out a knife.

Despite the dangerous situation, the bus driver managed to disarm the assailant and restrained him until the police arrived at the scene.

MTA New York City Transit’s Annicaro commended the driver’s actions, stating, “It appears tragedy is averted only because the operator is able to disarm the attacker and hold him as police officers arrive.” The bus driver sustained injuries to his face and body and was taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition.

Rashon Eagle was charged by the police with assault, criminal obstruction of breathing, and menacing.

Annicaro expressed his deep concern over the incident, emphasizing that it is unacceptable for individuals to take out their frustration on transit employees who are simply doing their job of transporting New Yorkers to their destinations. He called for the prosecutors to ensure justice is served with serious charges and maximum consequences.

This incident highlights the challenges faced by bus drivers in New York City, where buses have been noted to be the slowest among major American cities. In December, the average speed of buses in Manhattan was a mere 6.3 miles per hour, with the M15, one of the busiest bus routes, averaging only 6.5 mph.

Efforts must be made to address the issues impacting the speed and efficiency of the city’s bus network to avoid such incidents in the future and ensure the safety and well-being of both bus drivers and passengers.

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– MTA bus driver defends against attacker during slow ride
– Bus driver thwarts knife-wielding assailant on MTA route.