NJ Transit driver and passenger arrested after fight on bus in Newark

NEWARK, N.J. (WABC) – A New Jersey Transit bus driver and passenger were arrested last Friday after getting into a fight in Newark.

It happened around noon on August 16 in a crowded bus at the corner of Broad and Lafayette Streets.

Authorities said they were responding to reports of a physical altercation between the bus driver and an adult passenger.

The fight started after the driver allegedly spat at the driver.

The bus driver asked the passengers to go to the back of the bus before the fight broke out, officials say.

Newark police have reviewed a video of the fight that shows the driver choking the passenger while continuing to hit him.

“It's a bus driver trying to help the community and you've done an injustice to a bus driver who's trying to help us. He's doing his job and he wants to feel safe,” said bus passenger Zoey Clarke.

Both men are charged with grievous bodily harm.

Eyewitness News reporter Anthony Johnson spoke to NJ Transit riders who had very different opinions about what happened and who was right and who was wrong.

“He spit on him, which was a physical injury, but at the same time I think he should have called the police,” said Newark resident Darrel Armstrong.

“If someone spits on me, I automatically hit them,” said Donna Defeo of Newark.

The bus driver has been suspended from duty until the investigation is completed.

New Jersey Transit said in a statement that the incident was being investigated and that it could not comment on the details.

“We do not tolerate any kind of assault in our vehicles or on our facilities. We can confirm that our driver was assaulted prior to the altercation. We would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that assaulting a public transport worker is a serious offence and can result in a fine, imprisonment and/or a ban on using public transport.”

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