A routine early-evening run on Canarsie's B42 bus route turned into a crime scene Saturday when a 53-year-old MTA bus driver was assaulted on board, police said.
The attack happened around 5:50 p.m. as the bus approached Rockaway Parkway and Flatlands Avenue. According to investigators, the assailant took off heading north on Rockaway Parkway and has not been identified. No arrests have been announced.
Hoping neighborhood eyes can help crack the case, NYPD Crime Stoppers posted a wanted notice on X on Wednesday, Feb. 25, asking for tips that could lead to the suspect. The post notes that tipsters can message @NYPDTips or call 1-800-577-TIPS, and that callers may be eligible for a reward of up to $3,500 if their information results in an arrest and indictment.
Where the attack happened
The B42 runs along Rockaway Parkway, connecting the Canarsie–Rockaway Parkway subway station and Canarsie Pier, with a stop at Rockaway Parkway and Flatlands Avenue along the way, according to MTA Bus Time. It is a steady, workaday stretch in the early evening and a common assignment for local bus operators.
Assaults on drivers remain a concern
Assaults on MTA operators have popped up across the city in recent years, even as overall transit-crime numbers shift. Coverage of a separate incident in April 2025 noted that transit officials have pointed to changing crime statistics while isolated attacks on drivers continue to raise safety concerns, according to amNewYork.
For this latest Canarsie case, anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers via direct message on X at @NYPDTips or by calling 1-800-577-TIPS. Tips can be submitted anonymously and may qualify for the posted reward. Police say investigators are continuing to follow leads.
