Image Credit: www.transitbc.com
January 09, 2013 - 12:27 PM
A Kamloops public bus driver who was shown on YouTube allegedly kidnapping two passengers is back at the helm thanks to witnessess who corroborated his account of events.
The YouTube video posted Dec. 4 has garnered over 62,000 views, and two who saw it were prompted to take action because they were on the bus at the time the incident occurred.
BC Transit spokesperson Meribeth Burton said she is thankful for media attention that caught the eye of two witnesses who came forward with a different take on what happened that day.
"The video did not tell the story. It's only a snapshot," Burton said.
The one-minute video, entitled 'Kamloops BC Transit Driver Kidnaps Passenger' shows two transit users accusing a Kamloops bus driver of purposefully missing their stops and locking them on the bus.
The driver was suspended for the incident.
Burton said the two witnesses brought about new information that matched the driver's report of the incident. They said they witnessed a five-foot window shatter as well as the bus driver being kicked.
"One of the male witnesses said he thought this was an intentional instigation (by the passengers)," Burton said.
The driver has returned to work after taking a refresher training program.
"This is a driver with nine years experience, and his story certainly reflects what we heard from the witnesses," Burton said, adding that some BC Transit policies were broken.
"I think he seemed more shocked than anyone that this had gone out of control."
Both BC Transit and their contracted operating company First Canada have completed their own independent investigations and are working with RCMP. In a strange turn of events, the two passengers may be the ones facing charges.
"A Kamloops driver was legitimately assaulted by a transit passenger and a report has been forwarded to the Crown for review," said RCMP Staff Sgt. Grant Learned.
— Jessica Wallace
jwallace@infotelnews.ca
(250)319-7494
News from © iNFOnews, 2013