A CTA employee was taken to hospital following an altercation on a bus in Greater Grand Crossing, Chicago, that occurred over a fare dispute. The incident, which happened just before 11 a.m. on Tuesday, involved a line instructor working for the Chicago Transit Authority and a passenger who boarded the bus without paying the fare. As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, the passenger engaged in an argument with the CTA employee, which escalated into the passenger punching and pulling the worker off the bus, then striking her several additional times before fleeing the scene.
As per the Chicago Sun-Times, the incident took place on the 400 block of East 71st Street. The victim, a 44-year-old woman, suffered cuts to her face and was taken to South Shore Hospital, where she is reportedly in good condition. After striking the worker multiple times, the assailant managed to escape without apprehension, as no arrests have been made, the authorities confirmed.
In a statement obtained by WGN-TV, the CTA commented on the aggression, expressing outrage and emphasizing the seriousness of the assault, "We are outraged by this senseless act of violence against a CTA employee who is dedicated to keeping Chicago’s transit system running. Such attacks are not only unacceptable, they are also a felony." CTA President Dorval R. Carter Jr. added that the agency would utilize all resources at its disposal to find the perpetrators and hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
