A woman on Facebook, Serene Gwee, shared how her 11-year-old daughter’s arm was clamped between the doors on a Tower Transit Singapore bus 106 while heading towards Bukit Batok Interchange on 7 October.
The other commuters were shouting at the bus driver to open the door and release the girl, but instead of apologising to the victim, the bus driver allegedly screamed vulgarities at the other commuters instead.
After the girl reached the bus interchange, she met up with her mother and relayed what happened to her on board the bus.
A kind samaritan had also followed the girl to meet her mother to make sure that she was okay, and told the woman about what happened.
Here is what the netizen said
My 11-year old, bellowed in pain as her arm was clamped between the bus door when she took Tower Transit Singapore bus 106 from *primary school name redacted* to bukit batok interchange around 610pm today.
Fellow commuters shouted out to the bus driver to open the door and when he finally did, instead of apologising, he hurled vulgarities at the commuters, screaming at the top of his lungs.
When my traumatised, visibly shaken daughter met me at the bus interchange, I was heartbroken. I wanted to confront the driver but she was begging me not to do so as he was “very fierce and he would kill me”.
Unknown to her, a good samaritan (fellow commuter) actually followed her as she wanted to make sure *victim’s name redacted* was OK.
She related the whole incident to me and suggested that I might need to observe the injury. I was so absorbed in attending to my gal that I forgot to ask for her name. Thanks to this lady samaritian, I knew what happened. I am so grateful for her act of kindness.
I am appalled by this belligerent act of the bus driver. Surely the code of conduct does not include “berating customers with vulgarities!”
It has been hours now and she is still in shock and her arm is bruised with light abrasion. I hope to share this story so that the relevant bus company will take action to investigate and ensure inappropriate behaviours are not condoned. This is for the safety of the general public especially the vulnerable.
Tower Transit Singapore responds
Serene, we’re so sorry to hear that this happened to *victim’s name redacted*. The bus captain’s behaviour you described is completely unacceptable.
Can you please DM us your details so we can contact you directly? Alternatively, you may email us at [email protected] or call our hotline at 18002480950.
We will investigate this thoroughly.
Update: Bus driver suspended
A spokesperson for Tower Transit Singapore has since updated that the bus captain allegedly involved in the incident has since been suspended and a full investigation into the matter is underway, where they will commence disciplinary proceedings based on the findings.
They also reiterated their stance on how the driver’s outburst, lack of compassion and disregard for the passenger was not acceptable.