Caught on video: London, Ont. bus driver slugs man during altercation
Video of a London transit bus driver appears to show him punch a man across the face -- but the passenger who filmed the incident says there is more to the story.
On Thursday evening, 22-year-old journalism graduate Divyasri Sreekumar filmed the incident from inside a bus at the stop outside Masonville Place.
Sreekumar says a man wearing a brown shirt had been disturbing people at the bus stop prior to the driver’s arrival.
“This guy was screaming, and was basically being a perv and a creepy guy,” she describes.
She wants people to know the full context of the video, describing how the driver told the man to leave, but he grew more defiant -- spitting at the driver.
“He spit so hard that everyone (at the bus stop) said ,‘Ohhh!’” she adds. “Next I see the driver punches the guy and pushes him off.”
London Transit Commission General Manager Kelly Paleczny tells CTV News London that an investigation was launched into the incident, and no other details can be provided at this time.
At 7:40 p.m. London police were called to the bus stop about a person causing a disturbance -- but their response was cancelled when they received a subsequent call that the person had left the area.
After the man left, Sreekumar says the bus driver involved in the incident apologized to people waiting for the bus.
“He would walk around to the other bystanders and say we are so sorry you had to see this. So sorry for making you uncomfortable. But everyone was like, ‘We totally understand.’”
CTV News London was unable to locate the man in brown to ask his version of the events.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
World's record-breaking hot temperature streak stretches through April
The world just experienced its hottest April on record, extending an 11-month streak in which every month set a temperature record, the European Union's climate change monitoring service said on Wednesday.
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.