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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Punched Out While Driving a Bus

DALLAS (CN) - A Greyhound bus driver claims in court that a defective partition allowed a passenger to punch him repeatedly while he was driving.

Garrett Scott sued busmaker Prevost, bus interior manufacturer Bentech and his passenger, Edward Darnell Reed, in Dallas County Court.

Dallas-based Greyhound is not a party to the suit.

Scott says he was driving a Prevost X3-45 bus from Dallas to Houston in June when Reed attacked him.

He claims the attack could not have happened had Prevost and Bentech properly designed the driver partition and "more securely fastened" it.

"The partition is made of Plexiglass and nonglare coating," the complaint states. "The design of the partition does not fully enclose the driver - allowing irate passengers to partially access bus drivers during the commute. ...

"A safer design would have included a partition that fully enclosed the driver from the passengers or made physical contact, sufficient to cause serious harm, between passengers and drivers impossible. The partition involved in the incident of June 29, 2010, allowed sufficient room for defendant Reed to stick his fist and arm in towards plaintiff in his 'secure' position in the driver's seat and physically and repeatedly attack plaintiff while he was driving."

Scott says that since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the defendants have been given notice of "the likelihood of deranged bus passengers' propensities to attack bus operators."

Prevost, based in Sainte-Claire, Quebec, makes premium touring coaches and conversion coaches for high-end motorhomes, according to its website.

Greyhound has bought 200 Prevost X3-45 buses since September 2008, according to the complaint.

Bentech, based in Philadelphia, designs and makes pipe and tubing systems in buses and trains, including luggage racks and handrails, according to its website.

Scott seeks punitive damages for negligence and product liability.

He is represented by Robert Vial of Dallas.

Follow @davejourno
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