Woman beaten up on rowdy Vic bus

[twinkles**stars]

A WOMAN is in hospital after a group of up to nine people beat her until she was unconscious on a full Melbourne bus.

The 26-year-old St Kilda woman complained to the driver after the rowdy group boarded the bus in the city, because they were being boisterous and knocking into other passengers.

After she complained, one of the women in the group threw a drink over the St Kilda woman then punched her in the face, police say.

Other group members then dragged the woman to the ground where they punched and kicked her body and head until she was unconscious.

Several other people had also complained to the driver about the group, which was standing in the aisle because the bus was full.

The group fled after the bus driver opened the door on Swanston Street.

The victim was treated at the scene and taken to hospital for treatment where she is in a stable condition.

Police say the group of six or seven males and two females boarded the NightRider in the city about 2.30am (AEST) on Sunday morning and are perceived to be of African appearance.

They will review CCTV as part of their investigation.

[twinkles**stars]

I understand that the police are extremely but I do hope the driver had called this in, in the hope that the police were waiting for the bus.

[purple_haize]

The driver would have called the bus company where he works, they would have called the police.

[twinkles**stars]

PH...we don't know that he did that. The driver may have felt threatened and not able to do so? The police were not in attendance, maybe no time to get there?

[purple_haize]

Well my hubby has driven the night rider buses and they are told, if there are any problems they have to ring the depot and tell the night person in charge.

Drivers are not permitted to leave their seats and sort out the trouble, as they themselves could get hurt and their main responsibility is to make sure all passengers are safe.

So, the driver in this particular instance if he was doing what he was suppose to do, he would have rung the depot, for help.

[purple_haize]

Night rider buses are not all run by the same company, but I would imagine the rules for the drivers would be the same, I know that on all buses, the law is they are not allowed to leave their seats, so, they would have to be able to ring their depots.

In anycase it is up to the police as to when they arrive at the bus stop.

[twinkles**stars]

I know what they should do, but as I said we don't know what he did do we?

[purple_haize]

No, we dont know what he did, but being 2.30am in the morning, for his own safety and the rest of the passengers on the bus, ringing the depot to report what was happening would be the logical thing to do.

If he didnt ring the depot for help, then he himself will be in trouble with his workplace.........

[twinkles**stars]

I disagree. He may not have followed proticol if he felt he and the passengers would be put in more risk by doing so.

[purple_haize]

Hubby just said that all night rider drivers and drivers that work the night shifts, like my OH did, because of trouble makers around that time of night, are in constant contact with the one in charge at the depot at night.........for their own safety.