Bus driver allegedly “just flipped” and threw passenger onto pavement in Hackney

Darren Cousins in hospital after being attacked by a bus driver. Archant

A bus driver has been arrested after he allegedly “just flipped” and threw one of his passengers onto the pavement during a skirmish.

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Darren Cousins, 38, was admitted to hospital for scans to see if his spine had been damaged after the incident involving the Tower Transit driver yesterday.

Mr Cousins had been to his grandmother’s home in Broadway Market to pick up her hearing aid, and was travelling back on the 236 bus to Homerton Hospital, where she is a patient.

He claims the driver was being aggressive towards a couple of elderly passengers, so he approached the driver about his behaviour.

According to Mr Cousins’ cousin, Winsome Miller, the driver then “just flipped”.

“The driver opened the door and grabbed Darren and threw him on the pavement without letting go, and hit the floor with him on top of him,” a distressed Ms Winsome told the Gazette from Homerton Hospital last night, where her cousin was undergoing x-rays.

Police were called at 1pm yesterday to Broadway Market where the 40-year old driver was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and held in custody.

Ms Winsome continued: “I feel really angry that someone providing a service would think that it’s acceptable to do something like that. It makes me question whether he should have been given that job in the first place.

“I just want to make sure Darren is ok. I’m angry and in disbelief that it was a bus driver.”

Adam Leishman, managing director of Tower Transit Operations Ltd said: “We are aware an incident occurred but as yet are still investigating the facts.”

Officers from Hackney police’s safer transport command are investigating the allegations, and enquiries are continuing.