Police are asking Bronx residents to help track down a rider who allegedly kicked a 56-year-old MTA bus driver during a northbound BX15 run on March 16, leaving her with minor injuries before fleeing on foot, according to the NYPD.
Investigators say the confrontation unfolded as the bus approached Melrose Avenue and East 161st Street. A verbal dispute between the driver and the passenger escalated, and the suspect allegedly kicked the woman behind the wheel, injuring her chest and right arm. The attacker then ran off and has not been caught.
NYPD releases wanted notice
According to a post by NYPD Crime Stoppers, the wanted notice, posted April 6, states that the attack happened at approximately 10:49 a.m. as the BX15 approached Melrose Avenue and East 161st Street. The alert notes that the 56-year-old driver suffered minor injuries to her chest and right arm and that the suspect fled on foot. It directs anyone with information to send a direct message to @NYPDtips or call 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
Transit worker safety and agency response
The MTA safety report outlines measures the authority has rolled out to protect operators, including retrofit driver barriers, expanded camera coverage and de-escalation training. The report notes that incidents meeting the state’s penal-law definition of assault on transit workers declined from 2023 to 2024 and details training efforts, video monitoring and the Criminal Justice Advocate’s work with prosecutors. At the federal level, the Federal Transit Administration has issued directives asking transit agencies to assess and mitigate risks to operators.
Pattern of recent Bronx incidents
This assault fits into a string of violent confrontations on Bronx buses in recent weeks. A March attack on a BX38 driver prompted a separate NYPD wanted notice and a public appeal for tips, and that episode, along with others, has renewed scrutiny of operator safety across city bus routes.
Legal stakes
New York State expanded protections for transit employees in 2022, enabling prosecutors to pursue tougher charges against people who assault bus and subway workers. Depending on the injury and intent, the law allows for felony-level charges. See Governor Hochul for details on the legislation and protections.
How to report tips
Anyone with information about the BX15 incident is asked to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers by sending a direct message to @NYPDtips or by calling 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). According to the post, tips may qualify for a reward of up to $3,500 for information that leads to an arrest and indictment.
